Purchase produce from PA Preferred program participants

Pennsylvania has a lot to offer in its produce.

With agriculture one of the state's largest industries, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture started the PA Preferred program to boost the local economy and educate consumers about the importance of purchasing locally grown foods.

Started in 2004, the PA Preferred program is the official branding program of agricultural products grown or made in the commonwealth. Items could be anything from eggs to beer and produce to cheescakes.

Over the last decade, the program has grown and now boasts nearly 3,000 members who brand their products as being produced or processed in the state.

To identify these members, look for the PA Preferred logo.

To help, the Times News compiled a list of area program participants currently listed on the PA Preferred website.

(Editor's note: The lists may not be complete as they were compiled using a number of zipcode searches.)

Carbon County

• Graver's Orchard, Lehighton

• Spring Mountain Farms, Lehighton

• Boyer's Food Markets, Lansford

• Mahoning Valley Farmers Market, Lehighton

• Treasure Chest Candy and Gifts, Lehighton

• Grandma's Soft Pretzels, Lehighton

Schuylkill County

• Vic's Vittles, Coaldale

• Galen Glen Winery, Andreas

• Boyer's Food Markets, Tamaqua

• Country Cottage Bake Shop, Tamaqua

• Leiby's Farm Market, Tamaqua

• Zukovich's Farm Market, Tamaqua

• Mama's Famous BBQ Sauces, Tamaqua

• Leiby's Dairy, Tamaqua

Monroe County

• Borger's Harvest Moon Acres, Kunkletown

• Big Creek Vineyard, Kunkletown

• Gould's Produce and Farm Market, Brodheadsville

• Heckman Orchards, Effort

Lehigh County

• Heidel Hollow Farm, Slatington

• Water Wheel Farm Stand, New Tripoli

• Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli

For more information, as well as recipes, visit www.papreferred.com.

For information regarding other area businesses that produce all things agricultural, visit the AgMap, a website created through the Penn State Extension to provide details about the products available, at http://agmap.psu.edu.