Lewes farmers market partners with Epworth food pantry

The Historic Lewes Farmers Market announced a new program will begin Saturday, June 13, to benefit the Epworth United Methodist Church food pantry in Rehoboth Beach.

Market customers who want to help feed the local community with fresh, local food may purchase local produce, meats, milk and other food from growers at the market every Saturday to donate to the Epworth program. At the end of market hours, the produce and other foods will be gathered and delivered to Epworth. It’s a challenging time for many, and this is a good way to get nutritious local food to more community members. Market organizers thank customers in advance for their generosity.

This week, the market will be held from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at George H.P. Smith Park at Dupont and Johnson avenues. In case of rain, the market will move to Richard A. Shields Elementary School parking lot off Savannah Road at Sussex Drive. Customers can check the market’s Facebook page for updates.

There will be carrots, cucumbers, strawberries, purple and green asparagus, radishes, cauliflower, salad turnips, red and green Romaine, bibb lettuce, Swiss chard, cabbage, kale, spinach, bok choy, herb and vegetable plants, croissants, baguettes, scones, pies, quiche, milk, butter, eggs, honey, chicken, pork, and much more. Customers should subscribe to the free market newsletter to see a more specific listing of what’s available by vendor. To receive the newsletter, email info@historiclewesfarmersmarket.org.

Due to COVID-19, the market is very different from last year. The park entrance to the market will be near the gravel path from the circle driveway. There will be a hand-washing station with foot pump at the entrance, and a volunteer will provide sanitizer spray for customers’ hands. There will also be a hand-washing station at the exit. The market’s perimeter is enclosed, and there is only one entrance and one exit. Only a certain number of customers are allowed in at one time, and everyone in the market must wear a mask.

All market vendor info is available at www.historiclewesfarmersmarket.org. Several vendors now take preorders, and customers who preorder should plan their pickup for later in the day to avoid heavy market traffic.

The market will match SNAP up to $20 per market, per customer at the SNAP tent next to the market trailer. SNAP customers should wait their turn to enter the market, then ask volunteers to direct them to the SNAP tent where they will receive their bonus bucks. After receiving their tokens, SNAP customers will be able to enter the market without waiting in line again.

Market rules for customers from the Delaware Department of Agriculture:

• Do not come to the market if you have symptoms related to COVID-19.
• Cover your face: You must wear a face covering to enter the market.
• Wait your turn: No more than two customers per vendor at a time.
• Maximum of two people per household allowed in the market.
• Observe social distancing: Maintain at least 6 feet of distance between yourself and everyone else at the market.
• Electronic payment: Use credit cards when you can. Follow vendor instructions carefully.
• No touching: Do not touch market items. Tell vendor what you wish to purchase, and the vendor will bag items for you.
• No doubling back: The market is one-way; you must move continuously forward through the market.
• No lingering or congregating: Spend as little time as possible with each vendor for flow of customers through the market.
• Preorder as much as you can: Many vendors can now take preorders. Consult HLFM newsletter, Facebook page and website for information on how to preorder, and pick up from vendors at the market.
• No pets (service animals permitted): This is a state rule for the farmers markets at this time.
• Wash your produce: At home, wipe down any packaging with antiviral solution. Wash your produce with water.

For more information, go to www.historiclewesfarmersmarket.org.