Summer 2010 issue--Farmers’ markets are becoming more and more a common in the agriculturally rich regions of Delaware and Maryland, providing consumers with fresh local products that also sustain the businesses of area farmers. But the beneficiaries go well beyond the farmer and the consumer. The environment itself, and the local economy and community, reap the rewards from the markets, as well.
By keeping business local, markets are an essential contributor to keeping the environment clean and safe. Farmers’ markets help to reduce the distance food must travel – food miles – and essentially cut back on vehicle pollution and emissions, noise and fossil fuel use. Packaging use and the waste that occurs when shipping products is kept to a minimum, as well.
Markets also help encourage more environmentally-friendly production practices, with products such as organic foods or pesticide-free goods. As a result, they encourage farm diversification as well as bio-diversity.
As the peak agriculture season blossoms, more produce, organic products and local goods are finding their way to farmers’ markets throughout Delaware and Maryland, and surrounding areas. The farmers seize the opportunity to be a part of these markets in an effort to increase financial return through selling, cutting out the middleman of food retailers.
Transporting and packaging costs are less, if not eliminated altogether, and the sellers are able to establish direct relationships with the buyers. Consumers are able to find out directly where their produce and products are coming from, and the freshness can even help improve diet and nutrition. Monies can more easily stay within tight-knit communities, and the markets, as a result, attract more business to the retailers in the surrounding area.
Take the time to familiarize yourself with farmers’ markets throughout your area. To get you started, here is a list of some of the markets going on now through the fall:
Sussex County, Del.
Bethany Beach Farmers’ Market
Location: PNC Bank parking lot at Garfield Pkwy & Pennsylvania Ave, Bethany Beach
Days of Operation: Sundays
Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. - Noon
Dates of Operation: June 27 - Sept. 5
Contact: Dan Costello, (302) 537-5243
Fenwick Farmers’ Market
Location: Coastal Hwy. & E. Essex St., Fenwick Island
Days of Operation: Mondays & Fridays
Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. - Noon
Dates of Operation: June 28 - Sept. 3
Contact: Ellen Magee, (302) 436-5589
Historic Lewes Farmers’ Market
(Note: Held at two locations)
Location: #1: Lewes Historical Society Complex, 110 Shipcarpenter St., Lewes
#2: Richard A. Shields Elementary School, 910 Shields Ave., Lewes
Days of Operation: Saturdays
Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. - Noon
Dates of Operation: May 29 - Oct. 9
Contact: (302) 644-1436
Georgetown Farmers’ Market
Location: Sports at the Beach, 22518 Lewes Georgetown Hwy. (Rt. 9), Georgetown
Days of Operation: Fridays
Hours of Operation: 3-6 p.m.
Dates of Operation: May 28 - Sept 3
Contact: Pat Colluzzi, (302) 249-7878
Rehoboth Beach Farmers’ Market
Location: Grove Park, Grove St., Rehoboth
Days of Operation: Tuesdays
Hours of Operation: Noon - 4 p.m.
Dates of Operation: May 4 - Oct. 12
Contact: Pat Colluzzi, (302) 249-7878
Western Sussex Farmers’ Market
Location: Western Sussex Boys & Girls Club, 310 Virginia Ave., Seaford
Days of Operation: Saturdays
Hours of Operation: 8:30 a.m. - Noon
Dates of Operation: July 3 - Aug. 28
Contact: Ricky Robinson, (302) 629-2686
Kent County, Del.
Delaware State Univ. Farmers’ Market
Location: DSU Administration Bldg., 1200 N. DuPont Hwy., Dover
Days of Operation: Saturdays
Hours of Operation: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Dates of Operation: May 22 - Sept 18
Contact: Nancy Wagner, (302) 857-7392
Legislative Mall Farmers’ Market
Location: Legislative Ave., Dover
Days of Operation: Wednesdays
Hours of Operation: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Dates of Operation: June 16 - Aug. 25
Contact: Michelle Eichinger, (302) 744-1011
Downtown Milford Farmers’ Market
Location: North Walnut St., at Riverwalk Park, Milford
Days of Operation: Saturdays
Hours of Operation: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Dates of Operation: May 1 - Oct. 30
Contact: Beth Durham, (302) 839-1180
New Castle County, Del.
Brandywine Urban Farmers’ Market
Location: 12th St. & Brandywine St., Wilmington
Days of Operation: Mondays and Thursdays
Hours of Operation: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Dates of Operation: June 21 - Aug. 19
Contact: Brian Rahmer, (302) 428-6524
Carousel Park Farmers’ Market
Location: Carousel Park Equestrian Center, 3700 Limestone Rd., Wilmington
Days of Operation: Fridays
Hours of Operation: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Dates of Operation: May 28 - Sept 10
Contact: Reynold Cierniak, (302) 239-5182
Co-op Farmers’ Market
Location: Newark Natural Foods Co-op, 280 East Main St., Newark
Days of Operation: Sundays
Hours of Operation: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Dates of Operation: May 2 - Nov. 21
Contact: Gina Cimino, (302) 368-5894
Little Italy Neighborhood Association Farmers’ Market
Location: 8th & Bancroft Pkwy, Wilmington
Days of Operation: Saturdays
Hours of Operation: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Dates of Operation: May 15 - Sept. 25
Contact: Jacquie Kimball, (302) 658-7072
Wilmington Farmers’ Market at Rodney Square
Location: Rodney Square, East 9th St. & 11th St., Wilmington
Days of Operation: Wednesdays
Hours of Operation: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Dates of Operation: May 12 - Oct. 13
Contact: Tucker Casey, (302) 425-0196
Wilmington Hospital Campus Farmers’ Market
Location: Wilmington Hospital, 501 W. 14th St., Wilmington
Days of Operation: Mondays & Thursdays
Hours of Operation: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Dates of Operation: June 21 - Aug. 19
Contact: Brian Rahmer, (302) 428-6524
Wicomico County, Md.
Salisbury Farmers’ Market at Asbury Church
Location: 1401 Camden Ave., Salisbury
Days of Operation: Tuesdays
Hours of Operation: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Dates of Operation: April 17 - late fall
Contact: Jay Martin, (410) 873-2942
Shore Fresh Salisbury Farmers’ Market
Location: E. Market St. on Wicomico River, Salisbury
Days of Operation: Saturdays
Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Dates of Operation: May 1 - Nov. 27
Contact: Scott Smith, (410) 957-4548
Worcester County, Md.
Berlin Farmers’ Market
Location: N. Main St., Historic Downtown Berlin
Days and Dates of Operation: Fridays, April 30 - Nov. 26; Weds., July 7 - Oct. 8
Hours of Operation: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Contact: Olive Mawyer, (410) 641-4775
Ocean City Farmers’ Market
Location: Phillips Restaurant Parking Lot, 142nd St. & Coastal Hwy.
Days and Dates of Operation: Sundays, May 2 - Oct. 9; Tuesdays, June 29 - Sept. 7; Thursdays, June 3 - Sept. 9; Saturdays, May 22 - Oct. 9
Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Contact: Paul Wood, (410) 860 -2607
Pocomoke City Farmers’ and Flea Market
Location: 3 Market St., Pocomoke City
Days of Operation: Fridays
Hours of Operation: 7 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Dates of Operation: April 1 - Oct. 30
Contact: Carol Justice, (410) 957-1333
Snow Hill Farmers’ Market
Location: Municipal Parking Lot, East Green St., Snow Hill
Days of Operation: Tuesdays
Hours of Operation: 2-6 p.m.
Dates of Operation: May 11 - Sept. 28
Contact: Ann Gibb, (410) 632-2080
