Juniata River Commons: A New Community Market and Gathering Space
MIFFLINTOWN — On September 16, Juniata River Commons celebrated its grand opening. This local market and gathering space is the brainchild of Eric and Jackie Deiter, owners of EJ Market Gardens, and the Brubaker sisters, Phoebe and Angie, of Wilding Hope. The idea for a full-time year-round community market came about after both farms participated in the monthly Mifflintown Farmers Market for several years.
EJ Market Gardens, owned by Eric and Jackie Deiter, offers pasture-raised chickens for meat and eggs, ducks, turkeys, and a variety of produce on their small farmette in Mifflin. Meanwhile, the Brubaker sisters cultivate beautiful flowers on their family farm in Mifflintown and provide floral design services for weddings and events.
As farmers themselves, the owners of Juniata River Commons wanted to prioritize showcasing the great products that local farms have to offer. They aim to provide fresh produce and build relationships with other local farms to procure a diverse selection of fruits and vegetables. The store is still in the process of adding vendors and artisans, and is actively seeking more local produce growers to enhance their market. In addition to agricultural products, the owners plan to include other local artisan goods such as pottery, soaps, body products, and candles.
Juniata River Commons also has a flower garden that is open during regular business hours, and they offer workshop spaces as well as small party and meeting rentals. The store will remain open year-round because of its collaboration with local farms that utilize high tunnels for growing cool-season crops in winter. The owners also work with producers to reserve storage crops for the winter months.
In the future, the owners plan to expand their offerings to include specialty items like summer griller boxes with homemade sauces, prepared produce, New York-style bagels, charcuterie boards, and other homemade goods. They also hope to install a kitchen in the market for a farm-to-table café.
The hours of operation for Juniata River Commons are Thursday and Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The market is located at 2218 William Penn Hwy. in Mifflintown. For more information, you can follow Juniata River Commons on Facebook and Instagram.
If you’re looking for a place to support local farmers and artisans, Juniata River Commons is definitely worth a visit. With its commitment to fresh, local produce and its plans for a diverse range of products, it’s sure to become a beloved community hub in Mifflintown.