The Central Market in Lancaster is More than a Fruit and Vegetable Stand

The Central Market in Lancaster, located in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, is the country's oldest farmers' market. Situated in the center of the town and designated as one of America's "Great Public Spaces'', the market dates back to 1742 when it was chartered by King George II to the city of Lancaster, making Lancaster an official "royal market town.'' For centuries, the market has been a central gathering place for those who live and work in the Lancaster area and is known as the premiere location to buy the freshest locally grown food. USA Today has dubbed it the "4th best market in the United States to visit'' and many other travel and food publications have profiled the Central Market.

The current market house at Lancaster's Central Market was built in 1889 by English architect James H. Warner, who eventually became a resident of the city. Warner was well known for his ecclesiastic architecture and for building structures with large roofs. He chose the Romanesque Revival style for this market building, The exterior focus of the building is the twin towers that soar some 72 feet into the air, situated on the south corners and covered with Spanish tiling and terra cotta finials. The interior measures about 20,000 square feet and originally housed "160 farmers' and truckers' stalls, 72 butchers' and 20 fish stalls-252 all together,'' according to historians' records.

Nowadays, the Central Market in Lancaster is home to about 60 market stands offering a variety of foodstuffs and other items. Because of modern equipment such as refrigeration units and other necessities for keeping food fresh and safe, far fewer stalls are found at the market today.

While meat, poultry, and produce stands dominated the stalls in the early market, today there is a much wider selection of goods to enjoy. Because the market is in the midst of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, the Amish people are a regular fixture here, offering a huge variety of items ranging from meats from hand-raised animals, dairy, baked goods, maple syrup, produce, breads, candy, and much more. Well-known local specialties, like Utz Potato Chips, can also be purchased here. Other nationalities are represented at the Central Market as well, including stands that sell Greek specialties, Jewish deli items, Latino prepared foods, German lunchmeats and other delicatessen items, and Italian food.

In addition to food, visitors to Lancaster's Central Market can also find flowers, candles, baskets, handicrafts, gifts, and a variety of souvenirs reflecting the culture of the Lancaster area.

The Central Market is open year round but only on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The market opens early in the morning and is filled during those hours with chefs and owners of local restaurants who head there for the freshest food of the day for their eateries. It closes at 4 pm on Tuesday and Friday and at 2 pm on Saturday. The market sponsors occasional special events, usually during regular operating hours.