This past weekend my husband and I were in the Harrisburg, PA area visiting family and friends. My husband and I have spent a good amount of time in the area for the last several years, but we’ve never gone out to Lancaster. We figured why not go and see what the real food scene is like?
We didn’t have a lot of time, and I certainly had more places on my list to visit (next time!), but we did get to stop at two great places.
Our first stop was the Lancaster Central Market. Fun fact: It’s the oldest continuously operating farmer’s market in the country. There are vendors who have been at the market for decades.
A look down the aisles at the Lancaster Central Market.
We did some strolling around. I like to just look around at big markets like these. It’s just a feast for the eyes. It’s not the biggest indoor market I’ve been to (the one in Cleveland is huge), but it’s a good size and it has a familiar atmosphere. Shoppers seemed to know the vendors. Everyone we talked to was helpful and friendly. Because we’re traveling, we just got some organic peanut butter, organic almond butter, raw honey, and sauerkraut. I’m sure if I lived locally, I’d be there every week getting grassfed and pastured meat and dairy items too.
Senorita Burrita at the Lancaster Central Market.
Eventually, I grabbed a really yummy salad at one of the vendors. Clearly, I was hungry, as I couldn’t wait to shove it in my face (and delayed taking a picture). We also had some ice cream from a vendor who makes it himself.
After the Lancaster Central Market, we headed over to the Lemon Street Market.
Lemon Street Market in Lancaster, PA.
I loved this place. If I lived in downtown Lancaster, I’d be buying my groceries here. They had everything from soap to grassfed meat to eggs to coconut oil to packaged snacks. It’s a great store to get local, sustainable, bulk, and organic items, as well as quality meat and dairy. I had to make myself stop shopping. I picked up some grassfed steaks, raw milk cheese, grassfed butter, soap, and some snacks. We brought it all home in a cooler.
So there you have it. A real food adventure in Lancaster, PA. We really are so lucky. Here in Northeast Ohio we have access to some great food sources, and markets like those above are just a drive away.
Ever been to Lancaster? Any suggestions for places we should check out on our next trip out that way?
About Lisa Morosky
