The 104th-Annual Pennsylvania Farm Show starts on Saturday, January 4, and it runs through January 11, 2020. While we are definitely excited to dive into all of the exhibits, sessions and experiences surrounding the stories of agriculture in PA, we can’t lie: We’re most excited for the food! The Food Court is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the PA Farm Show for many attendees, but the experience can be a tad bit overwhelming — there is a crazy amount of local delicacies and delights to choose from!
Follow your curiosity to discover treats, both savory and sweet. But, if you need a few recommendations for where to begin, we’ve got you covered! Here are eight things we can’t wait to eat and drink at this year’s PA Farm Show:
Bell & Evans Parmesan Breaded Chicken Meatballs
New to the PA Farm Show this year is a perfect snack from Bell & Evans: baked chicken parmesan meatballs! These tasty bites are made from a blend of mozzarella cheese, garlic and Italian seasonings with a light Parmesan breading. Maybe you’ve seen these meatballs in retail stores like Whole Foods and Giant Food Store, and now Farm Show attendees get to try the new meatballs in their Food Court debut! They can be ordered as a four-piece snack, or smothered in marinara as part of a meatball sub. Other Bell & Evans options include chicken tenders, available this year in family packs, a breaded chicken breast sandwich, a breaded chicken thigh sandwich and a roasted chicken sandwich. One cool thing is that Bell & Evans is replacing oil fryers with multiple high-end Vector Multi-Cook Ovens providing a healthier option for Farm Show-goers. Order up a plate or two of meatballs, just don’t fill up too much so you’re able to sample the rest of the options at the PA Farm Show!
Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association Milkshakes
Fun fact: Did you know that milk is the official beverage of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania?
We’re not quite sure how they do it — surely, it has something to do with the high-quality PA dairy they start with — but the milkshakes from the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association, the oldest dairy group in the state, are truly the best we’ve ever had! These dreamy, ridiculously creamy shakes are the top-selling “PA Preferred Product” at the Food Court, with more than 160,000 sold, on average, each year. The sale of these superb shakes are for a good cause: the PA Dairymen’s Association supports year-round philanthropic efforts, and over the past three years alone it’s donated more than $1.4 million to a number of programs. These include The Calving Corner; agricultural and educational projects; initiatives and scholarships; the Fill A Glass with Hope® fresh milk campaign for neighbors in need; the Choose PA Dairy consumer education and awareness campaign; the PA Farm Bureau Mobile Ag Education Lab that travels to schools; the PA Dairy Princess and Promotion Program and more!
Grab one of these perfect milkshakes as an ideal pick-me-up after a long morning, or a treat to share with the kids. In our book, these milkshakes are a must-have at the PA Farm Show!
Craft Cider from PA Cider Makers
Head to the Farm Show’s PA Marketplace to sample, and for the first time ever, buy cider from members of the Pennsylvania Cider Guild! Every day, there will be a rotating lineup of seven local cider makers giving out complimentary samples to attendees age 21+. Their products are some of the finest craft cider made in our apple-happy state! Cideries that will be in attendance throughout the week include:
- Big Hill Ciderworks (Adams County)
- Dressler Estate (Chester County)
- Frecon Farms (Berks County)
- Good Intent Cider (Centre County)
- Ploughman Cider (Adams County)
- Threadbare Cider (Allegheny County)
Breakfast Sammies from the PA Vegetable Growers Association
Starting off the day with a hearty, balanced breakfast is key to PA Farm Show stamina. The new breakfast sandwiches, made with broccoli, eggs and your choice of sausage or ham from the PA Vegetable Growers Association, are sure to hit the spot!
Potato Donuts from the Pennsylvania Cooperative Potato Growers
After that nice, balanced breakfast, it’s time for breakfast dessert (that’s a thing, right?)! The fluffy donuts from the PA Cooperative Potato Growers are another Food Court classic: Whether you prefer them plain or showered in powdered sugar, these are impossibly tender and moist, thanks to the unlikely addition of mashed potatoes to the batter. At just 75 cents each, they’re also a great snack on a budget!
Honey Waffles & Ice Cream from the PA Beekeeper’s Association
Talk about a treat! The sweet richness of Pennsylvania honey is fully showcased in the PA Beekeeper’s Association‘s epic honey waffles, topped with honey ice cream. Warm and toasty and wonderful, these are a classic Farm Show indulgence that you shouldn’t pass by. Funds raised during the PA Farm Show help support honeybee research at Pennsylvania colleges, promotions for PA honey production, and scholarship and travel expenses of the Honey Queen.
Deep-Fried Breaded Mushrooms from The Mushroom Farmers of PA
We love the food magic that happens when mushrooms meet a deep-fryer. The meaty, umami-rich flavor of PA mushrooms is ramped up in these pop-able, addictive snacks from the Mushroom Farmers of Pennsylvania stand in the Food Court. Celebrate PA’s status of “Mushroom Capital of the World” with an order or two of the savoriest vegetarian snacks around. While you’re there, be sure to pick up a mushroom blend burger, or RoRo’s marinated mushroom vegetable salad to enjoy.
PA Dairymen’s Grilled Cheese Stix
Another new item to the Farm Show Food Court is a tasty trio of Grilled Cheese Stix from the PA Dairymen’s booth. This fun new twist on one of our favorite sandwiches features mozzarella cheese between classic Martin’s Potato Bread. This handy, kid-friendly new snack even has its own hashtag: #GrilledCheeseStix. Be sure to use it when posting your grilled cheese snaps to Instagram!
For a closer look at the Food Court offerings this year, check out this video, featuring an introduction from Russel Redding, Secretary of the PA Dept. of Agriculture.
The Food Court at the PA Farm Show opens on Friday, January 3, from noon to 9 p.m. It’s worth showing up on Day 1: Parking is free all day on January 3!
PA Farm Show Complex is located at 2300 N. Cameron St. in Harrisburg; phone: (717) 787-2905
- Potato donut and cider photos: Casey Martin Photography for PA Eats
- Milkshakes and Cyclone photos: Rich Ashenfelder for PA Eats
- PA Beekeeper Honey Waffles photo: Charles Vorisek
- Video: PA Cast
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