Contrary to popular belief, culture is alive and well in York, and one trademark York offering is particularly healthy — the farmers’ markets.

While generally more customary to larger cities, such as Philadelphia or Boston with their famous Italian and Asian indoor and outdoor shopping districts, the market business in York is experiencing great health. With three separate market houses present in the community, one may suspect that competition would be stiff. However, after a closer look at each of the three markets, it becomes evident that each holds its own within the sector.

Open on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, the Penn Farmer’s Market, located on the corner of Penn and Market Streets in downtown York, is probably the smallest of the three markets, and also the least well known. However, this doesn’t stop regular shoppers such as Greg Hamme from visiting weekly to pick up their favorite items. "This is where I come when I need meat. I buy all of my meat here," says Hamme of Sechrist Bros. Meats, a family owned business based in Dallastown.

A quick scan of the market reveals that the Penn Farmers Market is dominated by family- owned businesses. Others include Ilyes Produce, and Washington & Sons Meats.

James Washington of Washington & Sons Meats says he chose to set up his stand in the Penn Farmer’s Market due to the affordability of the space that he rents from the market. Washington states that he does not feel his business is threatened by the other market houses in York, and feels that, "people will shop where they want to shop." He did add that Fridays tend to be his busiest day, which is synchronous with the fact that the Central Market House, which is located a few blocks away, is closed on Fridays. So while there may be some competition between these two markets, it seems to be that of a healthy variety.

While the Penn Farmer’s Market is visited by a relatively older group of people, the Central Market House is frequented by a younger and more diverse middle class clientele. "This is ‘the’ market. The other ones are the other markets," declares Michael Sprenkle of Plant-It-Earth Organics. A couple of quick conversations with any vendor or patron of this market will prove that this is the consensus among the crowd that visits the traditional gathering on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays when the market is open for business.

Located in downtown York on the corner of Beaver and Philadelphia Streets beside the scenic Cherry Lane, the Central Market House is a historic staple of the community. Still housed under the building’s original Italianate architecture, the Central Market House has been in existence since 1888. Owned today by stockholders, the market is truly a part of the community.

As big as the community of York is on tradition, it is no wonder that the Central Market House is a success. Linda Glassmyer of York, who has come to the market since she was a child, sees the market as a tradition. "I was just thinking this morning that I would miss it if I lived somewhere else," says Glassmyer of the market.

According to Dale Shaffer, regional manager of Utz Potato Chips, freshness is the key to the success of the markets in York. Shaffer feels it is this benefit that keeps business healthy despite the myriad of supermarkets in the area.

The fact that the Eastern Market, located on Memory Lane in York’s east end, is only open on Fridays brought a visit to the market to a halt. However, a majority of the aforementioned interviewees concurrently reported that while the Eastern Market has similar stands with comparable prices to the Central Market House, the atmosphere holds much less tradition and charm. Located in a rather bland cement building, the Eastern Market is a shopper’s market, while the Central Market House "is more of a social market," according to Judy Fisher, owner of The Fisher Garden.

Shaffer, who also has a stand in the Eastern Market, says that while business at the Central Market stand is better for the week, the stand in the Eastern Market definitely does more business per day. With this in mind, it is probably safe to assume that the Eastern Market is pretty happening when open for business.

The York market houses offer a variety of products at their assorted stands. Although many of these products such as meats, vegetables, and baked goods can be found in the grocery store, the market also offers many items that are unique to market houses and the local area. For example, shoppers would be hard pressed to locate fresh herbs, authentic Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine such as pot pie, and York County artists’ prints inside of a national supermarket chain. So since the market house is a York tradition that isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, why not get out of the isles of processed food and the sterility of fluorescent lights and experience the fresh flavor of your local culture? It tastes good!