About
The Palmyra Real Food Emporium is operated by Tom Maurer, proprietor of Maywood Farms (grass-fed pork, free-range eggs). Tom has founded multiple producer groups, including Lebanon Valley Food & Farming Association: an organization advocating with regulators, legislators and other stakeholders in our food supply for local farmers and producers (including Lancaster County). This advocacy ultimately results in the freshest, safest, highest-quality food available at a fair price to farmers and producers.
The Emporium brings local, farm fresh food and specialty products to residents of Lebanon, Lancaster, Dauphin and surrounding Counties. All products are organic, grass-fed, free-range and/or chemical/hormone-free. Many items are gluten-free. All fresh items are produced within a 30-mile radius of the Emporium (except citrus and bananas).
We are open YEAR-’ROUND from 3-7 pm Thursdays; 8 am to 6 pm Fridays; and from 8 am to 3 pm on Saturdays.
The Emporium’s blog is currently maintained by Karen Green, Emporium Board of Directors and key investor. Email her, Tom and all Emporium stakeholders at: feedback@palmyrarealfood.com.
Beautiful website and market! The milk and cheese we bought there were both excellent.
Having trouble learning about the market for a first time visitor. What is offered, how much is organic, what are some of your vendors, things like that. I would be traveling a bit to get out there so I’d like to see if it’s worth the drive, thank you.
I’d honestly say it’s worth the drive from just about anywhere: Tom co-founded the Lebanon Valley Food & Farming Association and is a member of many other orgs that advocate for small/local/organic farming — and there’s frankly a lot of regulatory pressure these days that could crush this segment. The highest-quality regional producers know/trust him, and they patronize this (and the outdoor Palmyra Saturday) market(s). Key note/issue: while not all vendors are USDA certified organic, most/all Amish/Mennonite vendors grow/produce at equivalent (or even higher) standards — they just don’t subscribe to government stuff generally!
Are there any vendors there who sell grass fed beef?
Yes!!
Landisdale Farm, Jonestown, PA (Lebanon County): http://www.landisdalefarm.com
Breakaway Farms, Manheim, PA (Lancaster County): http://www.breakawayfarms.net
We also have free range chicken, turkey, pork; and wild salmon (new batch of latter due this coming week)
K
I just found out about your coop/market. I’m excited to get there soon. You have a wondeful mission, from what I see. I’m interested in becoming an consumer investor, or even at a higher level. I’m currently forming/organizing a group of family and friends into our own version of a cooperative called PILES4LIFE. We are actually making finished foods for each other, trading, and leveraging our collective energy and buying power. Our primary food goal is simlar to yours, to find local, healthy, and organic (when possible) sources for our ingredients. Long story short, I’m interested in the investment, but I’m wondering if an organization can be an investor, rather than an individual, or would all of our members have to be individual members. Maybe a price could be worked out. Please let me know what you think. Keep up the Great Work !!
Shawn — Sorry for the delay in replying: I’m on the Emporium Board and monitor the blog when I can. If you haven’t already spoken with him, you need to contact the proprietor: Tom Maurer, 717-813-0860 (cell). Not sure if he’s been questioned yet about organizations being members; though some of our producers (e.g. farms) are members! Hope to meet you at some point…
Karen Green