A Buzzing Success: Food Assistance Match Program

Sarah Komatsu • May 21, 2025

The Bees Were Buzzing—and So Were We

There was a moment on Tuesday evening when I looked up from the Bethel Park booth and thought, This is what a perfect market day looks like. Families were still wandering the vendor booths, the skies had stayed dry (mostly), and the sound of laughter from the bee visitors carried on the breeze.

In honor of World Bee Day, we brought a little extra buzz to the market:

🐝 Kids picked up free activity books filled with fun facts and puzzles.
🍯 Our honey vendor, Swope’s Berries & Bees, brought a live observation hive (yes, actual bees—safely enclosed!) that drew curious eyes of all ages.
🍪 One of our bakers created adorable bee-themed cookies that disappeared almost as quickly as they hit the table.

At one point, a little girl in a “Save the Bees” T-shirt lit up when she found out she could actually visit bees at the market. That kind of moment is why we do our best to bring education, accessibility, and fun to the Bethel Park Farmers' Market.

Our Community Showed Up

We don’t track official attendance, but judging by the crowd and how many vendors reported record sales, we estimate almost 1,000 people came through the market.

Several food trucks sold out before the end of the day—not necessarily something we celebrate, because we know it means some folks left hungry or disappointed. But it’s a clear sign of how strong the demand is, and we're already looking at ways to help vendors better plan for those big days.

A Big Day for Food Access, Too

This market also marked one of our busiest days ever for SNAP/EBT transactions—and we’re incredibly proud of that.

Through our partnership with FAM (Food Assistance Match) and St. Clair Hospital, we help make fresh, local food more accessible to families in our community. Shoppers using SNAP/EBT can receive a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $100 per market. This means they can stretch their benefits and take home more healthy, local groceries.

We’ve already helped shoppers save nearly $300 this season—and we’re just three weeks in.

Here’s how it works:

Shoppers using SNAP/EBT browse the market and shop directly with participating vendors.
At checkout, those vendors give the shopper a FAM-specific receipt and hold onto their selected groceries.
When ready, the shopper brings all their FAM receipts to the Bethel Park booth, where we run their SNAP/EBT transaction.
Thanks to our partnership with St. Clair Hospital and the FAM program, we match up to $100 in purchases.
Our team then collects the groceries from each vendor and brings everything back to the shopper.

It’s simple, dignified, and honestly, one of the programs I’m most proud to be part of.

These 28 Vendors Currently Participate in FAM:

1:11 Juice Bar
Becca Bakes
Billy's Country Smokehouse
Black & Gold Jerky
The Brinery / Two Acre Farm
Brochachos Salsa
Cafe Chocolade
Cherish Creamery
Chocolate Moonshine
Four Soils Farm
Goose Run Farm
Hello Hummus
Jodinkos Farm
Jose Quiroz Farm
Keystone Cultures
KizzleFoods
Lemmon Bros. Farms
Lettuce Ladies
Loafers Bread Co.
Logan Family Farms
Michael T's Bakery
Old Road Farm
The Pie Place
Rockin' Cat Organic Coffee & Tea
Searchlight / Olive Tap
Simmons Farm
The Springhouse
Swope's Berries & Bees

Whether it’s goat cheese, fresh juice, local beef, sourdough bread, or farm-grown lettuce, there’s a huge range of choices—and all eligible for the match.

Thanks for a Sweet Week

It’s not every Tuesday you get bees, cookies, sunshine, and a program that helps neighbors bring home fresh food for the week—but this week, we got all of it.

If you couldn’t make it or left without grabbing dinner, we see you—and we’re working to keep pace with this growing crowd. Come visit us next Tuesday from 3–7 p.m. at the South Park Corrigan Drive lot. Bring your tote bags, your appetite, and your love for local.

We’ll be here. 🐝

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Bethel Park Farmers' Market #1

By Kim Weightman • December 2, 2025

The Bethel Park Farmers Market, heading into its 20 th year in 2026, has been named the region’s top farmers market in the “Observer‑Reporter’s Best of the Best Awards,” earning the #1 spot after two rounds of community voting and a gala announcement at the Hilton Garden Inn Southpointe in Canonsburg last month. The award program, organized annually by the Observer-Reporter, celebrates the businesses, organizations, and people the local community believes deserve recognition. The top three vote‑getters in each category are honored at an invite‑only gala, where winners are announced live. “This recognition reflects years of dedication from our staff and volunteers,” said Recreation Director Jason Mentel. “The staff has dedicated considerable effort toward earning this award over the past several years. Sarah’s contribution was instrumental in elevating Bethel Park Farmers Market to achieve this recognition.” Farmers Market Coordinator Sarah Komatsu attended the gala and said, “I was fully shocked and thrilled. It’s been such an honor to steward the Market as it enters its 20th year. I’m grateful to the community who has shown up for two decades, to our incredible vendors, and to all the Market managers before me.” The Bethel Park Farmers Market, sponsored by the Bethel Park Community Foundation and St. Clair Health, continues to grow in accessibility and community impact. This past season featured: Fifty-two vendors , including nearly 20 rotating vendors for variety and six new vendors. Weekly attendance averaging 1,000–1,500 visitors , with peak weeks exceeding 2,000. Record sales reported by multiple vendors throughout the summer. Expanded accessibility through the Food Assistance Match (FAM) program, which doubled SNAP benefits up to $100 weekly, and senior vouchers that increased purchasing power for fresh produce and farm goods. On‑site doctors from St. Clair Health offering blood pressure checks and health conversations, elevating the Bethel Park Farmers’ Market experience. Highlights from the 2025 season included a new food court area, themed events such as National Bee Day and Cow Appreciation Day, musical entertainment, a special cooling tent complete with fun activities such as hula hoops and bubble machines, Market scavenger hunts for children, and partnerships with local organizations for a school supply drive. Assistance for those needing support in transporting their Market goods to their vehicles was also available. Looking ahead, Komatsu plans to expand vendor variety - including food items for those with specialized diets (such as gluten free) and continue building a welcoming, family‑friendly atmosphere. The 2026 season will open Tuesday, May 5, 2026 , and run weekly through September, from 3–7 p.m. at the same location (South Park VIP parking lot off of Corrigan Dr. near the ice-skating rink). Any new vendors interested in participating during the 2026 season can add their name to the waitlist by visiting https://www.bethelparkpa.gov – “Recreation” – “Farmers Market.” 2025 vendor fees were $400 for a full season, $250 for half season, and $150 for once‑a‑month vendors; food truck fees were $500 for a full season and $250 for half season. Komatsu also credited her summer assistant, local Bethel Park High School student Bane Stalder, for his support with the Market and also in managing FAM and troubleshooting. “I couldn’t do it without him,” she said. “He’s already looking forward to returning next season.” For more information, vendor applications, or volunteer opportunities, contact the Bethel Park Farmers Market at farmersmarket@bethelparkpa.gov .