Story

Welcome to the Juniata River Commons, a place to celebrate all of the goodness that grows in the rich soils of this river valley!

In the winter of 2022, after the close of the Mifflintown Farmer’s Market Season, Jackie and Eric Deiter of E.J. Market Gardens and sisters Angela and Phoebe Brubaker of Wilding Hope started to dream of an indoor market and gathering space that would provide fresh seasonal food, flowers, and artisan goods for local people that would be open all year round.

In the spring or 2023 we began renovating a small building located where the waters of the Lost Creek join the beautiful Juniata River. Long ago, this building used to house Don’s Fruit Market so it seemed fitting to fill it with local produce once again.

After insulating, and painting, planting a garden of seasonal flowers for U-pick sales, moving in freezers and coolers and sourcing all kinds of wonderful local foods, we began hosting Saturday pop-up markets to test the waters in May of 2023. The response from the community was a resounding YES!

In the winter of 2025 we asked Mari Jo, The Barefoot Florist to join us in the market space. Her more than 30 years of floral experience, gorgeous year round blooms, delightful plants, and gifts have added so much color and vibrancy to our space. She also partners with Wilding Hope to use as many locally sourced blooms as possible during the growing season which is a win-win!

In the summer of 2025 we added the Arch Rock Cafe an independent coffee shop and cafe, featuring Philip Kaufman’s delicious sourdough bread, foccacia, soup, salads, and baked goods.

We love the joy and creativity that comes from collaborating with other small business owners and makers and we look forward to changing, evolving, and sustaining our community much like the Juniata has done for countless generations.