Delaware farm tour attracts more than 160

More than 160 Delawareans recently received an up-close and personal look at life on Delaware farms on a bus tour jointly sponsored by the Delaware Department of Agriculture and Kenny Family ShopRite stores.

The tour took New Castle County residents to visit three farms in Kent and Sussex counties: Fifer Orchards of Camden, T.S. Smith & Sons of Bridgeville and Evans Farm of Bridgeville. All three grow for ShopRite.

“Events like this give more people an opportunity to see how our farmers grow the fresh, local produce we enjoy every day, and that’s very valuable,” said Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee. “We want more Delawareans to understand how their food gets from the field to the fork. The commitment of Kenny Family ShopRite stores to purchasing local vegetables and fruits, and to educating their customers about what they eat, cannot be understated.”

"We till nearly 2,000 acres, but our relationship with the customers is just as important as our relationship to the land," said Kevin Evans, owner of Evans Farms in Bridgeville. Evans Farms, located on Del. 404, features a seasonal produce market and Community Supported Agriculture program. The Evanses also participate in half a dozen community farmers markets in Sussex and Kent counties.