On Wednesdays during the summer, Bill Schutzler wakes with the sun and begins to organize into boxes his crop of tomatoes, peppers, garlic, onions and other produce.
It's the day of Tarentum's weekly farmers market, which begins at 9 a.m.
He's one of a host of local farmers who devote hours to preparing for farmers markets and bring in an income from their sales.
Schutzler, of Buffalo Township, plants a big garden on his acre of land.
He also sells garlic, beets and onions from his home, but farmers markets bring in most of the income from his produce production.
Schutzler, who is retired, said he grows everything from romaine lettuce to red raspberries.
"A little bit of everything," he said. "(It) depends what's in season."
He accepts farmers market nutrition vouchers from low-income customers.
Arlene Fusko of Destiny Acres Alpacas also sells wares from her Buffalo Township farm at the Tarentum market.
She offers for sale brown and green eggs, plus alpaca fiber, which is sought after by knitters and crocheters. She's sold products at the Tarentum market for two years.
"I'm happy with Tarentum," she said. "I think they do a fantastic job and have a great location. And they also don't charge anything, which can be cost prohibitive."
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