Green Dragon Farmers Market

Posted By Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle on July 21, 2008 2:33 PM

One cannot help but be skeptical when confronting a "real" Amish anything in Pennsylvania Dutch country. This area has more than its share of cheap attempts to cash in on the Amish people who do in fact still live here, and the stream of visitors hungry for some contact with Amish culture. Most of these places seem about as authentic as an Arkansas merman.

So we are delighted to report that the Green Dragon is a true farmers market (Fridays only) served by and for many Amish (and other) people. Our urban suspicians were erased when, after asking the photogenic checkers-playing proprietor of one particularly photogenic stand if it would be alright if we snapped a picture or two, it was made clear in no uncertain terms that it WOULD NOT be alright.

Our December visit didn't turn up a summer's bounty of produce, but what was there was gorgeous and very nicely priced, mostly cabbages, cauliflowers, and the like. The sprawling market has outdoor stands and a number of buildings with additional vendors, not just of fruits and vegetables, but of meats, smoked and fresh, baked goods, and lots of the sort of non-food items found in a flea market.

There were jars of achingly beautiful relishes and preserves. We purchased a bag of dried homemade pot pies, the thick noodle squares used for making the rib-sticking chicken dish. We also enjoyed some gloriously sticky pecan buns, and a first-rate country sausage sandwich from Newswanger's stand. There is so much more to sample, and we can only imagine what it must be like in the heart of summer. We hope to be back soon.

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Posted By Craig on November 5, 2003 2:28 PM

Green Dragon Market is the quintessential direct to public Amish food source. Having lived in the area for two years freshness of produce and meats made this the only place to shop. Being direct paying .16 cents/lb. for fresh whole chicken and similar savings for beef makes a long distance trip worthwhile. There's no better source of Scrapple, PA Smoked Hams or Dried Beef. The baked goods are stupendous, there's absolutely no comparison. You can tell these pies/pastries where prepared in someone's home kitchen. Amphomphere is unique the market offers collectables, Amish quilts and crafts. This is definitely a place to visit off season in October-December or to experience Amish cooking up close.

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Posted By Dr. Wayne D. Jones on October 28, 2003 7:56 PM

While I am a college professor in Texas/Oklahoma, I have eaten at the Green Dragon many times over the past 25 years. My family used to work one of the stands which gave me multiple opportunities to consume vast quantities of sausage sandwiches, submarine sandwiches, and steak sandwiches, not to mention the "sticky buns," soft pretzels, and dozens of homemade pies. Everything here is from scratch and made onsite. The sandwiches are made from bread that can only be found in the Northeast. What a wonderful treat it is to go to Green Dragon when I'm back in Lancaster County, PA.

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