West Reading Farmers Market

The West Reading Farmers Market operates every Sunday from 10 AM to 1 PM along Penn Avenue in West Reading, Pennsylvania, at 598 Penn Ave. The market runs rain or shine and offers free parking for shoppers. Founded in 2006 as part of a Borough revitalization effort intended to draw residents from surrounding communities into West Reading's commercial district, the market is now entering its 20th season and has become a regular fixture of the borough's weekend activity.

The market can be reached by phone at +1 484-955-4114.

Producer Only Model

West Reading Farmers Market is a producer only market, a designation that shapes everything about how it operates. Every vendor is either a small scale farmer growing produce, raising livestock, or producing dairy, or a food business located within 50 miles of West Reading. Each item sold is grown, raised, or hand-made by the producer selling it, with only a small number of approved exceptions. Value added food producers agree to source their ingredients locally whenever possible.

This structure means shoppers are buying directly from the people who grew or made what they are purchasing, and questions about growing practices, cuts of meat, or recipe ingredients can be answered on the spot. It also means the selection shifts with the Pennsylvania growing season rather than staying static year round.

What You Will Find at Market

The vendor roster spans a full range of categories:

• Seasonal Pennsylvania fruits and vegetables from growers including Bleiler's Produce Patch, Guldin Acres, and Katydid Hill Farm
• Mushrooms from Forge Dale Fungi
• Pasture raised meats and poultry, eggs, and dairy from producers such as Hickory Homestead and Milk Moon Farm
• Fish and seafood
• Fresh cut flowers
• Microgreens from Mike Gro-Greens, a newer producer offering pre-packaged or fresh cut pea shoots, sunflower shoots, broccoli, radish, and a spicy mix
• Breads and baked goods from Firefly Forest Bakehouse, Olde Crow Bake Shoppe, and Daily Loaf Bakery
• Fresh pasta from Oley Ravioli
• Coffee from Hill Road Coffee Roasters and beverages from The Perk Up Truck
• Cider from Sheltered Valley Cider
• Prepared foods from vendors including Noelle's Comfort Kitchen
• Pennsylvania beer, wine, and spirits
• Food truck concessions
• Hand-made crafts and art, available on Second Sundays

Food Access and Payment

The market accepts SNAP benefits and Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) checks. These programs allow shoppers using federal and state nutrition assistance to purchase fresh, locally grown food directly from area farmers, and their acceptance is a deliberate part of the market's approach to making local food available across the community rather than to a narrow segment of it.

Knife Sharpening by Berks County Edgeworks

One of the market's more unusual regular offerings is knife sharpening by Berks County Edgeworks, run by Dave Minnich. All sharpening is done by hand, with no powered machines involved. Accepted items include kitchen knives, pocket and utility knives, standard scissors, and chisels. Small batches can be sharpened at the market while customers shop, while larger batches are taken back to the workshop and returned by arrangement. Haircutting shears, mower blades, and saw blades are not accepted.

Live Music and Atmosphere

Live music is a regular feature of the market, contributing to its function as a weekly gathering place rather than simply a shopping stop. Musicians interested in performing can contact the market by email to be scheduled. Because live entertainment is funded through sponsorships, the market actively seeks local business sponsors to support the music program.

Shopper Resources

The market publishes free educational material aimed at helping people get more out of their visits and out of the food they bring home. Resources include practical tips for navigating a farmers market successfully, such as arriving early for the best selection, bringing reusable and cooler bags, and shopping according to what is actually in season. A detailed produce storage guide covers ideal storage temperatures, appropriate containers, expected storage life for different items, and which fruits and vegetables should be kept apart because of ethylene gas.

A weekly email newsletter goes out to subscribers with information on which producers will be attending that Sunday and what they plan to bring, which is useful for shoppers planning meals or looking for a specific seasonal item.

Merchandise

Branded WRFM merchandise is available for pick up at market or by delivery. Current items include:

Becoming a Vendor

Applications for the 2026 season are open. The market uses separate application forms for each vendor category: growers, meat and poultry, fish and seafood, dairy, baked goods, value added and prepared foods, Pennsylvania alcohol, food truck concessions, and craft or art. Craft and art vendors sell on Second Sundays from May through December. The market notes that submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance, as vendor selection accounts for category balance and adherence to the producer only standards.

Partnerships

West Reading Farmers Market works with several regional organizations, including Buy Local Greater Lehigh Valley, the Berks Agricultural Resource Network, West Reading Borough, and Visit West Reading. These relationships connect the market to broader efforts supporting agriculture and local commerce across Berks County and the surrounding region.

Practical Information

• Hours: Sundays, 10 AM to 1 PM
• Location: 598 Penn Ave, West Reading, PA 19611
• Parking: Free
• Weather policy: Open rain or shine
• Payment: Cash, vendor dependent card acceptance, SNAP, and FMNP checks
• Craft and art vendors: Second Sundays, May through December

The market's stated goal is to serve as a gathering place for people who care about local food while helping small producers reach customers in their own region. After nearly two decades on Penn Avenue, it continues to operate on that premise week after week.