West Shore Farmers Market

West Shore Farmers Market was created to serve the west shore of Harrisburg, and that origin still gives this Lemoyne market a distinctly regional pull. The market first opened on April 1, 1950, after Ray Garver, Sr. purchased property in Lemoyne that had been part of an old air strip. What began with 26 vendors now makes room for a much larger indoor roster, with a current claim of 50 vendors spanning produce, meats, seafood, bakeries, prepared foods, sweets, flowers, and specialty shops. For shoppers on the Harrisburg side of the Susquehanna, this is a long-running market built around repeat errands as much as one-stop food shopping.

Why it matters locally

The market exists because Ray Garver, Sr. identified a need for a farmers market on the west shore of Harrisburg, then opened one in Lemoyne in 1950. That local purpose stayed in family hands as Ray Garver, Jr. returned from Juniata College to run the market until 1990, and Tracy Katshir later entered the family business and now manages it with Greg Katshir.

Its continuity is also literal. After the market was destroyed by fire on February 1, 1999, a Temporary Market was established on March 26, 1999, and the doors opened again in a 60,000 square foot facility on June 16, 2000. That history matters for West Shore shoppers because the market is not a pop-up collection of stalls; it is a longstanding indoor institution that has been rebuilt and carried forward across generations.

What you'll find there

The mix leans heavily toward practical food shopping with enough prepared-food counters and specialty stands to turn a grocery run into lunch. Meats, produce, seafood, breads, sweets, coffee, flowers, and ready-to-eat meals all have a clear presence across the vendor roster.

• -Pick up fresh meat and related food products at S. Clyde Weaver, which also includes a café.
• -Browse gourmet pies, award-winning cakes, pastries, cupcakes, and seasonal specials from SweeTreats Bakery.
• -Find produce and vegetables at Red Barn Produce.
• -Order tacos at MidSt8 Taco, made with locally sourced ingredients, slow cooked meats, fresh seafood, and homemade tortillas, salsa, and guacamole.
• -Choose fresh fish and seafood such as salmon, cod, trout, and shellfish from W.L. Kepler Seafood.
• -Shop Shaffer's Quality Meats for beef, pork, veal, lamb, and poultry.
• -Stop at Market Street Deli for artisan breads, breakfast and signature sandwiches, salads, deli sandwiches, and beverages.
• -Look for smoked meats, premium hams, and cuts of beef, pork, and lamb at RG Hummer Meats.
• -Grab spring rolls, chicken on a stick, and soups from Dong My Asian.
• -Head to Mezza Cafe for authentic Lebanese cuisine.
• -Try prepared seafood, including crab cakes, at Marci's at The Market.
• -Add home-grown apples, peaches, nectarines, plums, and year-round produce from Pippin Run Farm.
• -Start breakfast with New York style kettle-boiled bagels and homemade cream cheese spreads from Bagel Lovers.
• -Bring home artisan pasta, ravioli, sauce, and pesto from Fasta & Ravioli Co..
• -Pick up fresh squeezed orange juice and farm fresh produce at Sunny Ridge Produce.
• -Finish with fresh cut flowers and arrangements from Rosa’s Flower Patch.

The market also posts holiday-specific notices; one announcement said it would keep regular hours for Easter on Tuesday, March 31, Friday, April 3, and Saturday, April 4.

Know before you go

No dogs are allowed, which is the clearest policy detail to factor in before you arrive. The shopping week is spread across three days rather than concentrated into a single market morning: Tuesday runs 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Saturday 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. If you're planning a fuller food run, the current vendor count claim is 50, and the lineup includes produce stands, butcher counters, seafood, bakeries, delis, and prepared-food vendors under one market roof. The market is at 900 Market St. in Lemoyne.