Centre County farmers market landscape sees changes in 2026 season. What to know

For years, Centre County has boasted a robust farmers market scene. Just about every town within Happy Valley could claim a market of its own, a testament to locals’ love for regional farmers and producers.

But as the 2026 summer market season kicks into gear, the landscape looks a little bit different.

The Pine Grove Mills Farmers Market announced in February that it would be pausing normal operations for the 2026 season, citing a decline in vendor participation and customer attendance. Instead, this summer, the market is hosting a series of “Fun Fridays” at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, with vendors, food trucks, live music and more, on June 5, July 17, Aug. 7, Sept. 11 and Oct. 16.

“The events will feature some of our vendors from last season, a few new vendors, crafts, food and activities for kids and adults,” market co-chair Laurel Pearson said. “We have been the only market in the area that accepts SNAP, and we plan to continue to offer this option this summer. It is important to us to make locally produced, healthful food accessible to everyone in our community.”

Meanwhile, the Bellefonte Farmers Market, though it was accepting vendor applications as of a Facebook post from April 1, more recently decided to cease operations for summer 2026, with organizer Ann Brooks relaying that, as of April 13, the market had attracted no vendors.

Still, things aren’t all grim. The North Atherton Farmers Market will continue to run May 16-Nov. 13 this year, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., in the Home Depot parking lot. For 2026, the market will have more than 20 full-time vendors, plus more than a dozen part-time vendors.

“You will find everything from the freshest abundance of seasonal produce and fruits to local meats, Alaskan seafood, locally made cheeses, locally roasted coffee, kombucha, fresh artisanal breads and pastries, wood-fired pizzas, food truck guests, ready to eat foods, weekly guests and so much more,” market President Marissa Schaeffer said.

Additionally, while still finalizing summer season details, the Boalsburg Farmers Market will continue operations, adding several new vendors to its roster.

Furthermore, the Downtown State College Farmers Market is celebrating its 50th summer in operation. The market, open every Friday on Locust Lane, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., spring through fall, welcomed vendors and shoppers for its first market of the season on April 10.

With other farmers markets shuttering, long-time vendor Eda Case, who also owns Patchwork Farm and Greenhouse, credited the market’s longevity to its location.

“The market is located in the cross-streets between Beaver Avenue and College Avenue,” she said. “These two streets have always been popular with students and townspeople alike, for shopping and socializing. The market’s color and energy have always appealed to the local population.”

Case’s mother, Jeanne McCarthy, was one of the market’s original members, five decades ago. Over the years, Case said, the market has diversified, as well as evolved to meet changing local consumer demand.

“Originally, it was a lot of farmers producing similar items, mainly fruits and vegetables, flowers, eggs and honey and baked goods,” she said, “but now there is a larger diversity of items on offer, including a higher number of vendors with prepared food. Also, as the international population at Penn State has changed, so too has the specific vegetable offerings changed as farmers adapt to the preferences of the students ... There has also been an increased demand for organic foods.”

The market continues to show how much diversity there is in Centre County agriculture, she said, and has allowed shoppers — especially students — to understand where their food comes from and connect with local farmers.

“Graduates return years later, sometimes with their own kids, and talk about what the market meant to them when they were attending Penn State,” McCarthy said. “The students frequently say that market day is the highlight of their week. It’s a chance to connect in a real way to the land and to those who work the land.”