Pottstown Market Founder: Building a life around fresh produce

Sheila Dugan stands at her stall in Smith Plaza, Pottstown, checking the day’s inventory for the Pottstown FARM market. The founder of the local marketplace says she has no plans to retire or cut back her hours. Instead, she continues to run the market as her primary source of income and a central focus of her daily life.

Dugan’s compensation is tied directly to the market’s financial health. She explained that her salary varies based on annual grants, sponsorships, and program needs. “My salary, though I do rely on it, has never been the priority and can change depending on the grants and sponsorships we have and what the needs are for our market’s programs each year,” Dugan said.

The market structure allows Dugan to maintain flexibility in her schedule. She designed her role to accommodate spontaneous community needs and shifting priorities. “My work is a mix of passion and the need to have flexibility,” she noted. “It’s a love I have and the salary was never a surprise to me. I knew what I was getting into.”

A major part of Dugan’s work involves partnering with Operation 143, a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Founded in 2011, Operation 143 provides food to homeless and food-insecure students who often go without meals over weekends. The market supplies fresh goods to support this mission.

Dugan described the partnership as her favorite initiative because it allows them to select fresh items for local families. Last week, the organization received bread, English muffins, salsa, green beans, cherry tomatoes, beef barley soup, and a small plant from market vendors. “I think this helps the families a lot,” Dugan said.

Beyond food distribution, Dugan spends time with the market’s board members and attendees. She works to introduce children to healthy foods and organize events during the market season. Her role in Pottstown centers on creativity, community interaction, and supporting neighbors through fresh produce and local engagement.