Onions, melons, heirloom tomatoes, and much more at HLFM July 30

The Historic Lewes Farmers Market announced last week that Saturday, Aug. 6, is the date to celebrate its favorite fruit at its Tenth Annual Tomato Festival at George H.P. Smith Park, Johnson and Dupont avenues in Lewes, from 8 a.m. til noon. Save the date for the festival that ushers in National Farmers Market Week, Aug. 7-13.

This annual festival is a favorite with fun and games and tomato creation tastings. Fourteen HLFM tomato growers will be paired with 14 local star chefs. The chefs will create a tomato-based dish using tomatoes from their paired vendor for HLFM patrons to sample. Sampling will take place from 9:30 until 11 a.m. while still available. Popular activities from past festivals such as face-painting for children and guess the number of tomatoes contest will also take place.

And, at both the new Wednesday market and the Saturday market, customers will find a wide variety of fresh, local seasonal produce as well as breads, fresh cut flowers and more.

There are two special programs at the Saturday market July 30. At 9 a.m., Maureen Miller, children's librarian from the Lewes Public Library, will read “Big Yellow Sunflower” by Frances Barry. All children and their adults are welcome to come to Children's Story Time, a partnership program between the HLFM and the Lewes Public Library. The Story Time Tent is located near the children's playground at the park.

At 10 a.m., Chef Matt Silverman from Dogfish Head Brewings and Eats in Rehoboth will demonstrate a summer recipe using produce from the market at the demo area right in the middle of the market.

The Historic Lewes Farmers Market recently opened a second producer-only market on Wednesdays at Kings Highway and Crooked Hammock Way from 8 to 11 a.m. The big Saturday HLFM market is open at George H. P. Smith Park. There's lots of parking for that location at the Shields Elementary School and Lewes School parking lots, just off the corner of Savannah Road and Sussex Drive and a short walk to the market.

For customers not able to walk that far there is a drop-off and pick-up entrance in the circle in front of Fred Thomas Building next to the park. The HLFM Veggie Valet service also helps customers carry bags and melons back to the school parking lots. This valet service is located right outside the HLFM Information Tent.

The market offers SNAP (EBT Food Stamps) program at both the Wednesday and Saturday markets. To help lower economic barriers to local, healthy food, the HLFM matches up to $20 each participant each week with HLFM Bonus Bucks. SNAP participants are encouraged to come to the SNAP tent at the market to pick up the bonus $20 in tokens to use at the market.

More information about the market is available at www.historiclewesfarmersmarket.org. Find them, too, on Facebook or call us 302-644-1436. To receive the HLFM newsletter, email them at historiclewesfarmersmarket@comcast.net to be added to the HLFM subscription list.