Farmers market returns to the Back Mountain

DALLAS, Pa. — Locally grown fruits, homemade honey, and fresh flowers are for sale at the Back Mountain Memorial Library Farmers Market.

What was once a small fundraiser for the public library in Dallas has turned into an ongoing summer tradition for folks in Luzerne County.

“I am totally in favor of farm-to-table, and I look forward to very forward to the fresh produce to serve my family as well, and when I have my grandchildren, I bring them up as well; they get their apple cider donuts, and I just try to hit every stand,” said Barbara Liparela, Luzerne County.

Organizers of the Back Mountain Farmers Market, Gary Dymond and Bill Peiffer, say the turnout for both visitors and vendors gets bigger and bigger every year.

This year’s farmers market has more meat vendors than they’ve had in years. 

“Yeah, the first day was a great day because we’ve tried to promote this and get the people interested in coming,” said Gary Dymond, Back Mountain Farmers Market Coordinator.

“For the community, it’s something that people need, and as we can see as they do show up, and uh, and it does fill a need,” said Bill Peiffer, Back Mountain Farmers Market Coordinator.

But the table isn’t the only thing this farmers market fills for some, like Nash Roberts and his family. It fills the heart, too, “We like to visit because when we had our Nana, she sadly passed, but she loved this place, so we like to keep our memories going,” he said.

A more than 20-year summer tradition for Luzerne County the Back Mountain Farmers Market is something Roberts hopes to bring his future children to and create more memories with in honor of his nana.