Dragon Ash

     One of my most enjoyable culinary pastimes, besides eating, is to visit the various farmers' markets that dot the country.  It's always a joy to savor the fresh fruit and produce available from the local folks who lovingly nurtured their trees and plants to fruition.  From coast to coast and border to border, from Washington State to Washington, DC and from St. Paul to New Orleans I have strolled the aisles and purchased fresh local fruits and vegetables to my heart's content.

     But there is one place that is really special to me.  And it's not far away.  Only an hour west of my home is the venerable Green Dragon in Ephrata, Lancaster County.  In operation since 1932, it is currently managed by the Rohrbach family on 30 acres of land.  Not only are there the usual collection of local vendors selling meats and produce, there are also bakeries, candy stores, snack food vendors and restaurants, too.  You can also find hardware, clothing, furniture and household goods as well.  And if you need a hundred bales of hay that is also available at the Friday auction.  As the saying goes, "If you can't buy it at the Green Dragon, it chust ain't for sale."

     That was until early Saturday morning.  At 4:35am the volunteers from Ephrata and surrounding communities were called out to a fire at the beloved sprawling market.  Preliminary indications are that the fire began in a building housing a furniture store and quickly spread to adjoining outdoor booths, many of them occupied by Mennonite and Amish vendors.  It was heartbreaking to survey the damage on Monday when I drove out to see for  myself the devastation in the center of the market complex.



     Bill Rohrbach speaking on behalf of the family has vowed to have the Green Dragon back in operation for their one day a week market on Friday September 26.  A lot of us are hoping so.