HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Farm Show opens for the 2024 season today, and organizers are starting with a highly anticipated and popularized tradition: the food court! There are a few new items, some that are returning for another year, and others that fit with the Farm Show theme.
The food court opens at noon on Jan. 5, and organizers are excited to welcome everyone in.
Dairy is the largest sector of agriculture in Pennsylvania, coming in at number one in the United States. The most sought-after food at the Farm Show is the milkshakes. This year, a new Salted Caramel Milkshake makes its way to the menu to honor the 100th anniversary of GIANT. Also on the menu are the fried chees cubes, grilled cheese and soft serve ice cream.
“You can meet the people who grow your food,” said Shannon Powers, press secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. “And you’re feeding the future of agriculture because they support scholarships for young people going into agriculture, which means you’re feeding our economy.”
Tomorrow, Jan. 6, 100 free milkshakes will be offered to patrons who receive a GIANT coupon from the booth. Thursday is Military Appreciation Day, so active military and veterans will also receive a free milkshake.
Along with dairy, mushrooms are the number one cash crop in Pennsylvania, which is known as the Mushroom Capital of the World. Making an appearance at the Farm Show this year is the new savory stuffed baby bellas. Favorites that are returning to the menu are golden fried mushrooms, cream of mushroom soup, Roro’s mushroom salad and more.
“Our dairy farmers recognized several years ago that dairy items were the most requested items in food banks because it wasn’t very accessible,” said Dave Smith, executive director of the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association.
“It’s a great educational opportunity to see where your food comes from, and you get an opportunity to show what you can do with mushrooms,” said Gale Ferrnato with Mushroom Farmers of Pennsylvania.
While indulging in all of the great food finds at the Farm Show Food Court, organizers are hoping patrons take the time to learn more about the Fill a Glass With Hope Campaign (FGWH). According to the American Dairy Association, more than 1.2 million Pennsylvanians--including 325,000 children--experience food insecurity each year. FGWH partners with food banks across Pennsylvania to distribute more than 164 million pounds of food. Donations at the milkshake booths and calving corners are encouraged to continue this mission.
“Incredibly, over 35 million servings of milk have been served because of the individual funds raised through corporate and sponsors during the last several years.”
Parking for today is free. For more information about the Pennsylvania Farm Show, click here.