Mars farmers market goes on despite Saturday drizzle
MARS — A drizzle in the forecast did not stop shoppers from looking for farm-fresh food and vendors from selling their products at the Mars Farmers Market on Saturday, June 27.
The market, which runs on Saturdays between May and October in the Advance Community Church parking lot, serves as a place for local farmers and artisans to sell a variety of goods.
Amy Bertram, a customer at the farmers market, said she liked many of the vendors. However, she said she especially appreciated the wide selection of local food products, which range from produce to meat to honey.
One of Bertram’s favorite booths at the farmers market was Mercer County-based Eastman Family Farmstead, which sells pasture-raised meats.
Paula Eastman said her decision to start the farm was rooted in her family.
“We wanted to know where our food came from and to be able to provide our daughter with nutritious food,” Eastman said.
However, the people at the Mars farmers market make the long drive worth it for Eastman.
“We love the people down here. They’ve kind of become family,” Eastman said. “We have a bunch of regulars that come down and see us every weekend.”
Although Eastman’s journey to the Mars farmers market began with a mission, Melanie Fessides’ journey began with a hobby.
Fessides runs Harmony based Fessides Farm and Apiary, which sells honey and beeswax-based products. Some of the products she sold at the farmers market included lip balm, hand cream and several different types of honey.
Fessides said she started selling at the farmer’s market to get rid of excess honey from her family’s beekeeping hobby.
“My husband thought it would be a fun hobby for us to get in to, and it took off and we had to start selling honey to get rid of it.”
Fessides has now sold her honey at the farmer’s market for more than four years and took over organizing the event after the previous organizer stepped down.
Although farmers are in the name, it is not just farmers who sell their wares at the Mars farmers market.
Mattica Designs uses a laser engraver to create custom designs on items such as coasters. The company also creates custom maps and signs for businesses.
Mars resident and Mattica Designs co-owner, Jessica Holdren, said the business started from a lifelong love for crafts. Holdren left her job after giving birth to her youngest son, and had always wanted to start an engraving and crafts business.
Finally, in 2025, Holdren bought a large laser engraver and started Mattica Designs.
“It’s always been something I’ve wanted to do for a while, and I took the plunge to do it,” Holdren said.
Holdren said selling her products at the farmer’s market was a natural fit because she lives across the street and loves to shop there.
In addition to selling her goods, Holdren said vending at the farmer’s market is a good place to meet people and show off all of the products Mattica Designs has to offer.
Vendors like Mattica Designs and Fessides Farm and Apiary will continue to sell their goods at the Mars farmers market every Saturday until Oct. 31.
