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Photo by John Eaton
Jeff and Jaclyn Berry are shown with their son, Jeffrey

Jeff and Jaclyn Berry of Wellsboro are taking on the role of managers of the Wellsboro Growers Market. “There is no set date as to when it will happen. This is a transition,” said Jeff. The market is held from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. every Thursday, including July 7 and 14 through Oct. 13 on the front lawn of the First Presbyterian Church at 130 Main Street in Wellsboro.

Six years ago in 2016, Jeff and his wife moved from Long Island, N.Y. because he had taken a job as an Emergency Medical Technician with the hospital, UPMC Wellsboro.

Jaclyn works from home for a company based in New York City. Their son Jeffrey is five years old.

Both Jeff and Jaclyn are active in the First Presbyterian Church and other local organizations. They volunteered as teachers for the June 20-24 Vacation Bible School on The Green and Jaclyn is on the Seeds of Hope Board of Directors in Wellsboro.

Thomas Putnam, also of Wellsboro, has been involved with the market since its first season in 2011. From May to October each year, vendors of all types – from growers of fruits, vegetables and meats, plants, flowers, shrubs and trees to bakers, maple and honey producers and those who make a variety of handcrafted items, such as embroidered or tie-dyed T-shirts, pet treats and candles and soaps – have participated in the Thursday market at the First Presbyterian Church.

The market is operated by a steering committee composed of church and community members. “I am on the steering committee,” said Putnam. “I helped with the market from 2011 on but in the last couple of years have been managing it. That entails providing information to vendors, helping set up and tear down the market and promoting it,” he said.

“I went to our church elders and asked if they could find people to give me a hand,” said Putnam. “I enjoy working with the vendors but feel it’s time to hand over the reins.”

“Jaclyn and I were asked if we were interested and said ‘Yes,'” said Jeff. “Initially, we were on board with helping out but we don’t mind taking it over,” he said.

“Both Jaclyn and I grew up on Long Island. My family grew vegetables and fruit on our property. We had chickens in our backyard. When I was 23, I worked for eight months on a farm on Long Island and would take their dairy products and produce to area farmers markets and sell them,” Jeff said.

Since the start of the 2022 season, Jeff has been at the Wellsboro Growers Market from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. each Thursday helping with set up and tear down. “I am also asking the vendors for their input about any changes they think we should make.”

He and Jaclyn are approaching producers directly to see if they would be interested in becoming a vendor at the market.

“Jaclyn and I are looking for people from Tioga and surrounding counties who grow their own flowers, fruits or vegetables, either in ground or hydroponically, or produce dairy products or raise meat and are willing to sell directly to consumers.”

They are also promoting the market to the public by creating and distributing flyers and brochures and will be updating the market’s website and Facebook page.

For more information about participating in the market, call Jeff at (570) 360-9813 or email him at wellsborogrowersmarket@gmail.com.

To find out who and what will be at the market in July, visit the market’s Facebook page.

Diane Eaton
dianetn@ptd.net
(570) 724-3800