Shady Maple Farm Market

Shady Maple as a wide selection of home style food, a meat departments, Amish and Mennonite dishes and a surprisingly large gluten free departments. Baked goods and deli are insane. Produce is off the hook.

I will give Shady Maple's Farm Market a 5 stars. Why you might ask? It's not because it's part of a destination within Lancaster County, PA but because it has both unique snacks and fare as well as some great prices on produce, meat and even doughnuts. First, if you want to see why Pennsylvania is considered the snack food capital of America, look no further - a good portion of their chip aisle has chips and pretzels made locally in the area with some unique flavors. They also have locally made A-Treat sodas and more of the better known PA-made snack foods. They sometimes can even get in some exotic fare like a malt drink from Russia. They have some great prices on produce and it's of good quality as well. One of the best places to find good deals on apples and even try some varieties you might not have heard of. Sometimes they might even surprise you with that they are carrying. Do note that you will need to take your produce to one of the employees in the area to have them weigh and attach a label to the bag. Not a big deal as it helps the cashiers quickly ring you up at checkout. Doughnuts are common across PA Dutch Country and the surrounding area but after trying a half-dozen recently I can attest to their quality and the wide variety of doughnuts they have (gingerbread crullers for Christmas? Yes, please!). Plus they have the best price for a half-dozen around compared to the farmer's markets in DE/DelCo. Do note, that others know this and they keep a nice line through most of the day. But like the smorgasbord, they are efficient and can serve many customers quickly. The same can be said about their deli counter and the wide variety of cold cuts they have including capicola ham. Also try their blueberry sausage links if they have them, they are very tasty. They also have competitive pricing for meats relative to the area and I wish I had a cooler on me sometimes as I would love to stock up a bit on what they have. Overall, the store is well-kept and very clean and plenty of room in the aisles. The merchandise is well organized and there's something for everyone here. While not a health food place, they do have some gluten-free, sugar-free and other options available. If you have time before or after you adventures in the smorgasbord, definitely stop here to at least check out what they have. Just be aware you might be walking out with some snacks you purchased (or a pretzel from their stand just outside the main grocery store).