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The third season of the Historic Lewes Farmers Market will officially open at 8 a.m., Saturday, June 7, with 38 vendors ready to sell their fresh-from-the-farm produce. Acknowledged as Best Farmers Market in Delaware in 2006 and 2007, the organizers of the Historic Lewes Farmers Market have expanded the number of vendors from 16 in its first year to 38. The market will be open 8 a.m.-noon every Saturday, June 7 through Sept. 13. The market is located at the Lewes Historical Society Complex at 110 Shipcarpenter St. in downtown Lewes.
The Historic Lewes Farmers Market is co-hosting with the Lewes Public Library a Children’s Reading Program held during the Saturday market from 9 to 10 a.m. in the School House on the grounds of the Lewes Historical Society Complex. This program is suitable for ages 3 to 8, but all children are welcome and encouraged to attend with their parents. The first Children’s Story Hour will feature the book “Jack’s Garden” by Henry Cole.
At 10:15 a.m., Adam Kindl and his 4-year-old son Andrew will give a presentation titled “It’s Okay to Get Your Hands Dirty,” geared to encourage kids to garden organically. Kindl’s presentation will include free literature concerning projects that parents and their children can do at home in their own gardens.
Kindl is the founder and operator of Grassroot Organics, which specializes in chemical-free lawn care and sustainable landscape management. Kindl has 16 years’ experience in the green industry. He is the only organic land care professional in Delaware accredited through the Northeast Organic Farming Association and is a certified turfgrass professional through the University of Georgia.
Kindl’s bachelor’s degree is from the University of Delaware, where he spent two years in the specific study of environmental science. He is a member of the Ecological Landscaping Association, the U.S. Composting Council, the International Compost Tea Council, the National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides, and the Delaware Nursery and Landscape Association. Kindl is a published columnist who writes articles of local interest concerning sustainable landscaping and natural lawn care and is also in demand as a speaker and lecturer.
The Historic Lewes Farmers Market is a producer-only market. In addition to farm-fresh produce, the market will be offering flowers, herbs, plants, eggs, meats, cheeses, baked goods and fruit. Some of the vendors and products both new and old include Barn Yard Farms featuring fresh butter and yogurt, Bella’s Cookies, Baues’ Busy Bees, Bennett Orchards, Blueberry Lane Farm, artisanal cheeses from Chapel’s Country Creamery, Community Organics with produce and grass-fed beef, Davidson Exotic Mushrooms, Deep Grass Nursery and Edible Arts Foods with prepared soups, salads and entrees. Eggs of a Feather brings a chicken or two to meet, and Fifer Orchards starts the season with asparagus, strawberries and peas.
Fishers’ Farm is back this year as is Freeman Farms with its wonderful produce, and Good Earth Market and Organic Farm promises everything is certified organic. Greenbranch Organic Farms is new this year and will bring leeks, kale and more. Hattie’s Garden is back with plants and gourmet produce all naturally grown. Back by popular demand are Hickman’s Meat Market, Kalmar Farm, Lavender Fields, Olivia’s Bread’s, Nancy’s Fine Foods, Steve Kogler’s Old World Breads, Magee Farms and M & M Farms.
New this year Lucky Penny has seasonal flowers and micro greens, Manna Organic Farm lots of fresh produce and Paradise Orchards with peaches (later in season), and hydroponic strawberries. M & M Farm is all about organic baby melons, and Rainbow Java will sell organic, fair-trade coffee roasted locally. Market patrons will be able to grab a bagel from Surf Bagel and pick up organic free-range chickens and eggs from The Farm. Pasqualini’s Bakery is back with all those baked goodies and Pipe Dream Fromage goat cheese will be at the Market Table. Seaberry Farm is bringing nursery stock, container gardens and baskets of annuals. Nancy’s Fine Foods always has the perfect soup or pies to start and end dinner.
The Historic Lewes Farmers Market will be providing weekly educational events for the community including cooking demonstrations by local chefs using local ingredients, providing, in conjunction with the Lewes Public Library, a weekly story hour for children and creating educational activities related to food, organic gardening and energy self-sufficiency.
Farmers markets play an important part in America’s food system. The number of farmers markets continues to grow in this country. They give local farmers the ability to sell food they raise directly to customers. These markets serve as important vehicles for economic growth, both for producers and for the business community where they are located. They allow consumers to purchase fresh food grown by local farmers, they help create new farms and support ones that are already in business. They help create activity in towns and neighborhoods, and serve as important gathering places for building vibrant communities. Farmers markets reconnect people with one another, the land and the source of their food.
For further information visit www.historiclewesfarmersmarket.org.
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