As farmers markets in the area get underway this summer, cuts to federal programs and rising costs are on the minds of growers in Northeast Pennsylvania.
Cuts to federal funding for farmers market vouchers have some farmers concerned heading into the summer. Agencies that distribute vouchers to income-eligible older adults and young families learned this spring they will receive fewer vouchers than they requested, which officials said was because of the Trump administration delivering less funding for nutrition programs than Congress appropriated.
Caryn Long Earl, director of the state Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Food Assistance, notified county agencies that they’ll only receive about 74% of the vouchers requested for distribution through the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program. The program provides income-eligible county residents ages 60 and older up to five $5 voucher checks they can exchange for fruit, vegetables and herbs at participating farmers markets and farm stands.
The similar WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program provides Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children recipients three $10 vouchers for use at the same places. WIC agencies will receive only 49% of their requested vouchers.
State Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Shannon Powers said in an email earlier this month the state received less than 39% of the funding that Congress appropriated to distribute to WIC recipients through the Farmers Market Nutrition Program for the year.
“The federal government has given no explanation or reason for the delay in funding,” she said. “Cancellations and delays of this and other federal funding streams, along with drastically reduced staffing at the federal agencies who manage funding contracts, have left the question of whether funds will eventually be received up in the air.”
Logan Brace, co-owner of Brace’s Orchard in Dallas, said the vouchers are a big part of his business. He estimates 30% to 40% of the farm’s revenue comes from them and estimates the cuts could reduce that revenue to 15%. The farm sells produce at the Wilkes-Barre, Pittston, Back Mountain and Scranton Co-op farmers markets.
“When you cut that in half, it makes a big impact,” he said.
Brace, who is also president of the Scranton Co-op Farmers Market, has started to see the impact of the federal funding cuts in other ways, as he used to deliver food to the Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank every other week but now has to do so every month.
“They have a lot less money to spend with the farmer,” he said.
Brace said he plans to play it by ear this year and is hopeful the food bank will allow him to drop off food there more often. He said he understands there is wasteful spending in the federal government but the cuts shouldn’t be put on the consumer.
Gary O’Malia, owner of Larry O’Malia’s Farm and Greenhouse in Plains Twp., shares similar concerns. He said vouchers are a large part of his business and could impact his plans for next year’s growing season.
“It’s going to hurt if it’s reduced,” said O’Malia, who has a stand at the Wilkes-Barre Farmers Market.
Ron Mattern of Zimmerman Farms restocks zucchinis at the Wilkes-Barre Farmer’s Market on Public Square on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Customers wait in line to purchase fresh produce at the Wilkes-Barre Farmer’s Market on Public Square on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Harold Golomb of Golomb’s Farm and Greenhouse adjusts his produce at the Wilkes-Barre Farmer’s Market on Public Square on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Customers browse the fresh produce on sale at the Wilkes-Barre Farmer’s Market on Public Square on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Customers browse the fresh produce on sale at the Wilkes-Barre Farmer’s Market on Public Square on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
The reduced funding means Eric Gillis, owner of Gillis Vegetable Farms at Windy Hill in Pleasant Mount, has had to find different means to sell his products — and has had to raise prices. He said vouchers account for 15% of his revenue.
He said he will see how things go with the growing season but worries about the number of people who won’t be able to buy produce because of the cuts. O’Malia is hopeful that more funding will be provided for the vouchers.
“A lot of people depend on it and I think it’s going to hurt a lot of people,” he said.
Organizers of area farmers markets say they are working to help customers and vendors sell and purchase food.
Mike Slusser, Wilkes-Barre’s special event coordinator, said he received more calls from people who qualify for senior farmers market vouchers this year.
This year is the first time people eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program can purchase vouchers at the Pittston City Farmers Market. Mary Kroptavich, Pittston’s deputy city administrator and Main Street manager, is hopeful it will help people — particularly seniors affected by cuts to the senior voucher program — afford food offered at the market.
“I’m hoping that can help the seniors that receive any other type of federal funding,” she said. “We have a lot of low-income residents here in the city of Pittston and to be able to offer this I’m sure will be a drastic impact for them too.”
Kroptavich said sponsors also help at the market with free giveaways, and she hopes they will show up this year to assist the community.
It isn’t just cuts to federal funding impacting farmers. Roger Young, director of community revitalization for United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania, said rising costs have prompted farmers to try new initiatives. The nonprofit operates two farmers markets yearr-ound in Carbondale and South Scranton.
These include partnerships to sell each other’s products and help set up their own stands. However, he said some farmers have had staffing issues, resulting in them sometimes not showing up regularly. Young said there were an average of five to six vendors at the markets last summer, and so far this year there’s been an average of three or four.
“I think there are a number of factors, and the federal cuts absolutely don’t help in trying to solve that food desert issue,” he said.
Young said the organization has had to shift its strategy to help farmers, including providing SNAP vouchers. But he worries about the impact the cuts and rising costs will have on the next generation of farmers.
Several residents of the Fallbrook apartment complex in Carbondale said farmers market vouchers are a lifesaver for them, and not having as many of them hurts financially.
“Seniors look forward to the vouchers all year,” said resident Norma McDonald, adding she got less than half the vouchers that she received last year. “It’s sad for seniors, farmers and the community. When any funding is cut it trickles down and everyone suffers from it.”
The following farmers markets in Northeast Pennsylvania are in operation this summer:
Lackawanna County
Abington Farm Market: Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., mid-July through October.
Carbondale Farmers Market: year-round, Thursdays, 2 to 7 p.m.
Hillside Farmers Market: through October.
Scranton Co-op Farmers Market: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., beginning July 18, until the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
Southside Farmers Market: year-round, Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Luzerne County
Avoca Farmers Market: Wednesdays, 5 to 7 p.m. through Sept. 24.
Back Mountain Farmers Market: Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; opening day July 5.
City of Wilkes-Barre Farmers Market: Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Nov. 13.
Hazleton Farmers Market: Sundays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Mountain Top Farmers Market: Sundays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; opening Sunday.
Pittston City Farmers Market: Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; opening day Tuesday.