Why are people drawn to Amish markets? Kevin Shelly examines the question in a recent article about Amish markets in southern New Jersey.  Shelly counts seven in south Jersey alone, despite there not being any Amish in the state. A few points to consider: “The quality is a lot higher here and I’m willing to spend a premium,” says one shopper.  Amish-sold goods are commonly…
Wrapping up a week in which it seems I can’t stop talking about Amish food (Amish bulk food stores, Amish canning, Amish maple syrup) I was happily surprised to find a new article on Indiana Amish food markets in the Chicago Tribune (see Indiana Amish food markets). When I hear “Amish markets” I tend to think of the PA Dutch farmers’ markets you see in…
Kauffman’s Bulk Foods 3215 Five Corners Road Jasper, NY 14855 Inside an Amish Bulk Foods Store Tom shares some photos today from an Amish bulk foods store in the Jasper, New York Amish community (about 90 minutes south of Rochester). Horses go here. Tom observes: “It is interesting when I go to Kauffman’s there are more English folks than Amish shopping.  Jasper is a rural…
Today we’ve got a Q-and-A with Keith and Laura James, founders of Amish Workshops. Â I’ve been looking forward to this interview because I think it’s quite an interesting look at how an Amish-oriented business gets started and operates. Â Amish family businesses benefit from and rely on relationships with non-Amish people. Â As Keith and Laura’s story shows, it can be rewarding on many levels. Running this…
Looking for Amish recipes? Check our directory of PA Dutch & Amish recipes for over 300 dishes… …or read on to learn about one Amish business’s clever recipe giveaways (plus Amish takes on Tomato Gravy, KFC Cole Slaw, and Grape Nuts). This summer I visited R and E sales, a large bulk food store in the Amish community at Adams County, Indiana. R and E is…
When in Lancaster I stay with Amish friends on an organic produce farm. So of course I partake of the delicious veggies- (and sometimes even pick a few) heirloom tomatoes, romaine lettuce, spinach and squash. Taste-wise the stuff is hard to beat. However when not on the farm I rarely consume organic products. Price is one factor, but that’s not all there is to it….
Amish are well-known for their produce, which they sell at stands and auctions. Â Produce season is in full swing, with lots of tasty garden treats to be had. Â You can usually find some great buys for relatively little money. On my recent trip I bought a lot of fruits and veggies from Amish produce stands (to counter the caffeine and other unhealthy stuff I inevitably…
Salvage grocery stores, aka “bent ‘n’ dent” shops, are common in Amish communities. They’re popular among Amish with many mouths to feed, and English bargain hunters as well. Â I’ve bought from them a number of times (hot sauce and other goodies). I just came across a 2008Â article on Amish salvage stores (no longer online). Â By the author’s tone, she seems to want to cast suspicion…
Summer is prime time for auctions. Â The town of Belleville smack dab in the middle of Big Valley in Mifflin County, PA is home to a long-running auction and flea market, which attracts a large contingent of Amish and English alike. The auction is held each Wednesday year-round. Â Livestock, farm equipment and many other items go up on the block each week. The flea market…
Pennsylvania Dutch markets thrive throughout the greater Philadelphia region If you live anywhere in the Philadelphia-Baltimore-Washington DC corridor, you might have Amish nearer than you think–at least for a few days each week. Â Amish market stands are found scattered across the Eastern corridor, bringing Plain life into the cities and suburbs of America’s largest metropolitan areas. Market stands provide a pretty decent living for Amish….