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Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market
Category: Food Farmers Market Farmers Market [Edit]
17th and Chew StreetsAllentown, PA 18104
(610) 432-8425
- Hours:
Thu 9 am - 8 pm
Fri 8 am - 8 pm
Sat 8 am - 6 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
25 reviews for Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market
Review Highlights
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"Many produce stands, as well as pastry and meat stands." In 9 reviews -
"Stoltzfus Amish Deli - Wonderful cheeses and meats." In 5 reviews -
"Great cuts of meat, cheeses, seafood and produce." In 2 reviews
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25 reviews in English
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Review from Anthony R.
Lansdowne, PA
4/23/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Since 1980, I have browsed and shopped here, Pennsylvania Dutch/German Meats and Pastry. Pretzel Dogs from Annie's; County Fair Pizza, Cookies and Doughnuts to die for, Fruits and Vegetable Stands, Seafood, Cheese Shops. You have to see and Smell this place to believe it. My wife took me here when we dated and all through our marriage, yes, we still our. Did this place help?
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Review from Shelly M.
Bethlehem, PA
2/15/2012
Its an ok market, I do have to say i did have my hopes a wee bit dashed when i came to the market.
I being a high traveler was expecting something on a higher scale, so i was thinking global. Which was very wrong on me. I should of been thinking local. Which they do have a large array of wonderful products and local farmers -
Review from Glenn T.
Bethlehem, PA
7/1/2011
I love going to the Farmer's Market because it reminds me of when I was a kid and my grandfather and I would go there on a Saturday morning. Their meats and produce are always fresh and there are a few eating stands available to get coffee or food.
One thing I noticed about the market is the fact that the prices of the food and produce is basically the same no matter which stand you go to. If you want pork sausage at stand "A" it's $5.95 a LB at Stand "B" it's $5.95 a lb and at stand "C" it's $5.95 a lb. The same goes for the produce. Strawberries are priced the same throughout the market, as well as other produce. I definitely think there is some collusion going on amoungst the vendors. This is unlike the way it is at the Q-Town Farmer's Market where you can shop for the best price.
Overall, it is a great place to get your fresh meats and produce. -
Review from Christopher C.
Bethlehem, PA
8/29/2011
I really can't add much to what has been said by the other reviewers so far except to say that Glenn T's review is pretty much spot on and that Dimitrios D's review is ridiculous because there is only one Fair that goes on here and the Farmers Market is closed during that time so how things can be weird and occasionally tasty is beyond me.
Great place for meat and produce but a bad place for bread as both places the specialize in bread charge outrageous prices. -
Review from JP B.
3/25/2011
When I visit my brother (a serious food guy like me) we end up here. It's a classic public market, mostly food, with a few other vendors thrown into the mix. If you come looking for farm-raised free-range meat or organic veggies fresh from the local farms you might be disappointed. They're represented here, but they're not the primary focus. If you want to buy meat from the butcher, cheese from a cheesemonger, fruits and veggies from a greengrocer and specialty food items this is a great place. It also gives you a sense of the lay of the culinary land - the foods of immigrants who arrived generations ago (whose blood runs through many of the shoppers) can be found here, including Polish and Pennsylvania Dutch foods.
There's quite a bit of ready to eat food for sale, ranging from fast food to home cooking style dishes. Most of what I've tried is OK, but you'd do much better to ingredients here and cook them yourself at home. Every time I've grabbed lunch here it was just fine, but the dinners we make in my brothers kitchen from our haul are always much better. If I lived in the area I'd hit the supermarket for canned and dry goods, hit the local farm stands for the best of what they have to offer, then come here for everything else. You can do very well here on a moderate budget if you shop smart.
As a place to grab a bite I'd rate the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market two or three stars, depending on which vendor you choose. As a place to take the pulse of the local food scene it's easily four or five stars. As a public market - a place to pick up quality veggies, meat, cheese and specialty items the place is a very solid four stars. Some of the prices are a little higher than the average supermarket, but the quality is pretty high. Overall you're getting what you pay for here, including a very good shopping experience.
This market is my main destination in Allentown. Highly recommended. -
Review from Thuy H.
Philadelphia, PA
10/14/2011 12 Check-ins Here
I love this place. It's one of the few places where my family can buy or at least order some cuts of meat that rarely is available anywhere else. Unless we make a drive to Philly, which of course is absurd when you need a some pig tongues to finish out a dish or some tripe to make a delicious bowl of soup. Like others have said there are plenty of little eateries to cater to every taste. A bit pricey but hey, you're supporting the farmers.
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Review from Jim D.
3/3/2009 6 Check-ins Here
Ah, my beloved local farmer's market!! I frequent this place almost every weekend. This is the kinda place where I feel most comfortable - surrounded by food -- and lots of free samples!
There are so many stands and concessions that you can easily spend hours here before you know it. The meat vendors sell everything you could possibly want from prime rib to well, piggy snouts. Need an oxtail? No problem. Ham hocks? How many? Sweetbreads? You picked my brain! Everyone takes huge amounts of pride in their products and services. My picks??
Clover Farms - Love these guys. They have some of the best meats around!
Fairground Poultry Market - One of the few places you can find local, free-range organic poultry
Mr Bill's Poultry - One word: SAUSAGE
Heckenberger's Seafood - The freshest and best priced seafood you can find in the area
Stoltzfus Amish Deli - Wonderful cheeses and meats
Bread Brokers - Amazing artisan breads
Southern Delights - Try their blueberry heaven dessert and prepare to cry
My list is really endless, but you get my drift. My only gripe is that there aren't any organic produce stands here. I heard of one having been there in the past but the variety is next to nil. The produce is cheap though, I must admit.
It's no secret that the best deals are found towards the end of the day. Be warned though, the place gets seriously crowded then. The place is always packed with both locals and visitors. They're only open three days out of the week (Thurs-Sat) so I guess that has something to do with how busy it gets here. -
Review from Brittany G.
Allentown, PA
8/3/2010
The allentown farmers market is great! You can find everything you need whether its produce,meat, or special items in the various specialty shops. The best though is the Hazleton Connection! This store sells many good from Hazleton PA. They have the best hand pinched pierogies! They sell prune, cabbage, saurkraut, blueberry, potatoe and cheese, and farmers cheese. They also sell hazleton's famous pitza. It's a tomatoe pie that's perfect hot or cold! For the serious sweet tooth, they also sell Victoria's Candies. Let me tell you it's the best. Some of the favorites are butter creams, and Virginia dainties.
So come check out the Hazleton Connection! You will enjoy everything! -
Review from Alyssa W.
Slatington, PA
3/7/2010
I absolutely love it here. This is where I go when I don't feel like selling my first born to Wegmans. They have just about everything you could possibly need, meats, cheeses, bread, (hit up the bread lady down by the dollar store, she makes the BEST bread I've ever eaten) and old-fashioned candy! I can't imagine going anywhere else for for veal or lamb, and if you give them enough time, most places can get whatever your little heart desires. Word of advice, bring your own bags, because there really isn't enough room for the carts people insist on using. Also, I'm voting the market as wheelchair accessible, but if you don't absolutely need one, don't bring it. Everyone around you will thank you.
My only gripe is that dollar store. It's weird and unnecessary for the environment. I'm not even sure it's a dollar store, but I don't really know what else to call it. -
Review from Carol K.
New York, NY
2/4/2009
I don't go to the Farmer's Market often, but I enjoy visiting once in a while. You can't find everything here, but there are some things here you won't find at Wegman's. I go for the chipped beef, rolled butter, ring bologna, mozzarella balls, and veggies.
There is guy who sells hot sauces and nuts who is really nice- he was able to track a hot sauce that I couldn't find in any store and has some really tasty roasted peanuts!
The amish ladies make a yummy cheesecake!
I didn't really like the corn pie- the boiled egg in there was weird to me, and the bbq ribs from the same place were dry (very tasty when we brought them home and refried them with more sauce).
There is a stand that sells italian cookies and I bought a whole box since I was in the mood for some, but they are nothing like the kind you'd get at an italian bakery.. maybe my batch was just old?
If you go later in the afternoon on Saturday a lot of the vendors drop their prices trying to get rid of their stuff. It's very crowded at that time too, but you can get some great deals on vegetables and meat! (although all the freshest stuff will be gone already) You can get a bag full of trimmed broccoli for a dollar! Watch out for the tomatoes though, I got some rotten ones hidden at the bottom. -
Review from Becki S.
Allentown, PA
7/31/2011
I love the farmers market. I usally stop at sweet things, Mexican stand for the fresh salsa and guacamole. I love the meats and veggies and the prices aren't bad at all. I usually stop at the seafood stand for the cajun catfish which my kids love.
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Review from Dimitrios D.
New York, NY
7/3/2011
Big and weird and occasionally tasty (when a fair is in town).
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Review from Jeff H.
Philadelphia, PA
6/26/2008
I guess I'll take the middle ground on this one. It's not bad, not amazing, it's a place I go for a few specific things.
My favorites here are...
Wittmans World Cheeses: Applewood smoked cheddar (Last time I asked Wegmans wasn't carrying this..), fresh ricotta, and cranberry Stilton. Friendly, no-nonsense, show them how big a wedge you want and they sell it to you. Not the cheapest but I heart cheese.
Baringer Bros: This place has amazing ham hocks and they'll saw them in half for you. Good for making split pea soup or Cuban black beans. Also good kielbasa and they've got pig ears for your dog.
Mary Ann's Donut Kitchen: tasty rugelach, I tried the cinnamon bun looking thing and it was okay but not dense enough.. maybe it wasn't really supposed to be a cinnamon bun.
Dan's BBQ Chicken: never had the chicken but they make a tasty corn pie.. corn, hard boiled egg, pie crust... yum. However, even when there are no other customers you will be invisible to them until you take a number.
Foods of the Mediterranean: lots of grain salads, chicken shwarma was good but a little dry, I liked their spanakopita.. it's a little light on spinach.
There's a Mexican stand that as far as I can tell has no name but you'll know it when you find it... pushy but nice woman, good guacamole and beef empanadas.
I've never bought meat from the Clover Farms stand but they seem pretty nice... the guy who is usually there threw a stick of beef jerky at me one day.. I don't really like jerky but it was pretty good. -
Review from Vanessa W.
Bethlehem, PA
8/4/2006
The best farmer's market in the area. You can pick up some staples here, as well as some great gormet foods.
Try some traditional PA German foods, and interact with the friendly store owners. Great cuts of meat, cheeses, seafood and produce. Having a party? Make this your first stop. Even sustainable options of local food, organic meats, and east coast seafood.
Forget Wegman's, this is the real market experience without the sky-high prices. Open Thursdays through Saturdays.
Update: I have taken several out of towners here for a true Lehigh Valley experience. Both have requested to go back, if that tells you something about the food. Their favorites include the Amish baked goods, potato skins from Ribs N Things and Auntie Anne's Soft Pretzels. -
Review from Steve F.
Manhattan, NY
11/20/2008
If you want a history lesson on the indigenous people of Allentown you have to look at what they eat. And the best place to do that is at the AFFM. The rows and rows of butchers and bakers and one candlestick maker, sell foods eaten in Southeast Pennsylvania for hundreds of years. Shoo Fly pie, Ring Bologna, Pickled Cabbage, Chow Chow, and Scrapple are just a few local delicacies the German and Amish settlers brought with them.
There are also many farms in the area and vendors showcase the fruit and vegetable with top-notch produce at reasonable prices. For flavors outside the region, check out the fresh seafood stand, cheese house, coffee vendor and the grocery store at the far east end to where you can find everything on your shopping list.
Mixed in with the traditional foods are many gourmet stands offering modern prepared meal solutions from around the world. A diner and pizzaria round out the mix. There's even a health food store.
With Allentown being so close to New York City there has been an influx of savy residents willing to commute. So now Allentownians are a diverse blend of traditions and levels of cultural sophistication as evidenced from the first bite at AFFM.
AFFM is only open Thursday through Saturday so you can imagine how crowded it is no matter when you go. -
Review from Justin P.
Honolulu, HI
3/11/2008
This isn't really a farmer's market -- more like a flea market of food. True, you can get some classic PA dutch staples, but the produce is standard supermarket fare. Not to mention the prices are the same or worse than Weis/Giant/Wegmans.
Try the Emmaus Farmer's market for REAL farmer's from the Valley selling their produce and meats.
Also, Quakertown Farmer's Market is the same only worse! A handful of food vendors and then a bunch of flea market crap (besides the wolf t-shirts which are great). -
Review from Brian H.
Astoria, NY
6/15/2010
This place was massive and lots of fun to walk around on a Saturday afternoon. It's not the best farmer's market that I've been to but it has a very eastern Pennsylvania vibe and we got some great food.
It has some of the most intense and varied doggie treats I've seen. And the smoke cow esophagus stunk up the car but the dog loved it.
For human consumption, we got some really delicious strawberries (they had no white flesh and were very sweet), addictive kettle chips, and really great pierogies (that for once didn't need sour cream).
The only thing I didn't love was the chicken pot pie. It was rather bland and overly thick. Not worth the calories.
-eatthisny -
Review from Kat J.
Lavallette, NJ
2/1/2007
A lot of variety and great prices!
I heard great things about this market from my physical therapist's office staff so I decided to try it out. I had a great time! I bought lots of fresh veggies to make pasta tonight and a phenomenal whole grain roll (which I scarfed down WHOLE before I got home). I found a big variety of bakeries to choose my dessert from - I got an apple pie from the Amish bakery in the end. I'll let you know how it goes!
It's not a high end place - in fact, it's far from it, but it seems very authentic, mostly family-owned stalls. There were lots of people there with long lines at several of the stands...I'm definitely going back! -
Review from Joyce M.
Allentown, PA
7/10/2009
The Allentown Farmers Market makes shopping for food fun!
If you are a long time native of the Lehigh Valley, a newcomer or just visiting, you HAVE to visit this market. It's only open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, but it's worth working your schedule around.
Words do not describe the variety of tastes, smells and sights that you will experience here. And, the people watching is interesting, too.
You can buy pickles reminiscent of Delancy Street in the Lower East Side of NYC, old fashioned penny candy, chow-chow and PA Dutch bacon dressing, shoo fly pie, fresh bagels and organic shade grown coffee. You can watch the golden chickens crisping on the rotisserie spit, purchase fresh seafood, chicken, beef, all manner of pork products, fresh fruits and vegetables and MORE. You can even sit at a luncheonette counter placed in the middle of the action, so that you don't miss a minute of the whole amazing experience.
Lastly, Balasia, the amazing Asian fusion/Vegetarian restaurant just opened in December in the market. Swing by and try anything from them and expect to be delighted!
You can't compare the Allentown Farmers Market to any grocery store. It is totally unique (similar to the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, but still unique).
While it doesn't have a lot of organic, seasonal or local produce, it does have a lot of great prepared food...and does sell fresh produce and everything else year 'round. For local produce, we can always go to the Plaza Growers Market downtown on Wednesdays at lunch in the summer.
The Allentown Farmers Market is a market. But, it both defies and defines what a market can be. And, at the end of Saturday, it's more like a food bazaar than a market.
Especially exciting for foodies and value shoppers is going for the "close out" at the end of the market (Saturdays around 3 or 4). This is when the vendors get rid of what hasn't sold at amazing prices. They loudly hawk what they want to get rid of and the prices keep falling the later it gets until everything is sold.
If you go to the sell out, be careful of impulse purchases. Once I bought a crate of plums for $5. Of course, then, I had to figure out that week what to cook that uses a LOT of plums. -
Review from Steve M.
Easton, PA
2/22/2009
The beauty of the Farmers market is that there is something here for everyone. I like to go here and just walk around, but I usually stop for the same things every time. You have all sorts of fruit/veggie stands who all will have some locally grown items. You also have a number of butcher shops in here. Its a shame that a butcher shop is a thing of the past, but at least they exist here. The quality of meats, as well as the choices is fantastic here. The pizza place is ok (Charlies I think), and its a nice alternative to really good pizza from a local shop. Its decent for take and bake. The watch repair guy is great-he's fair and honest and doesnt overcharge.
Only negative about this place is the hours of operation. I wish it was open more! -
Review from Jaime k.
Bethlehem, PA
8/14/2008
A great market that has a little of everything. Many produce stands, as well as pastry and meat stands. Also candy and wine. And most importantly of all - the Greek stand. I forget the name of place specifically, but it is, hands down, the best hummus on this planet. Make sure you buy the large size or else you'll have polished it all off before your car pulls out of the parking lot.
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Review from Kay R.
Stamford, CT
1/7/2012
used to go to college five minutes walk from here and I miss it terribly. amazing
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Review from Patrick D.
Allentown, PA
1/19/2010 1 Check-in Here
The heart and soul of the Lehigh Valley. I go there once a week. Look for great deals on Saturday before they close or just go down to grab a bite and take in the atmosphere.
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Review from Brian l.
Philadelphia, PA
4/3/2009
I love this place. I frequent the farmers market maybe every other week. You can find almost anything here. There are many butchers throughout the market specializing in meat, poultry, and seafood. There are a couple eateries bakeries, cheese shops, and shops for fresh produce. I can't name everything that's here. I have yet to get meat but I've gotten catfish and mako here already and they were great! The people working here are also really friendly. Definitely come check out this place if you're looking for fresh produce, meats, or are looking for a bite to eat!
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Review from Nicky W.
Homestead, FL
5/27/2007
I love this place. One of the few places I miss in Pennsylvania. All the shops are excellent. Great quality of mechandice and prices are very reasonable. If you live near hear or are visiting, stop in . It is worth the trip.
