Historic Lewes Farmers Market opening for sixth season

The Historic Lewes Farmers Market will open for its sixth season on Saturday, May 28, (Memorial Day weekend) and run through Oct. 29.

With the market voted “Second Best Market for its Size” in 2010 and the “Most Successful Farmers Market in Delaware” for the past five years, the Board of Directors of the Historic Lewes Farmers Market has committed to its ongoing policy of supporting local farmers who grow fresh fruits and vegetables - a “real” farmers market.

The opening bell will ring promptly at 8 a.m. to herald another “fresh” season in Lewes. May 28 has also been proclaimed as Historic Lewes Farmers Market Day by the City of Lewes.
The popular Children’s Reading Program is back for another season and Maureen Miller, Children’s Librarian from the Lewes Public Library, will welcome the new season with a reading at 9 a.m. in the little School House of “One Bean” by Anne Rockwell.

Kicking off the market demonstrations will be Guest Chef Phil Mastrippolito from Fish On!, who will shop the Market and then give a cooking demonstration featuring fresh ingredients from the Market.

Almost all of the vendors from last year will be back at the market this year, and joining the market this year is Pure Harvest Farm. They will be selling pasture-raised chickens, sold fresh and whole. Fed from organic feed without antibiotics, hormones or chemicals, the free-range birds will be processed just two days before the market to ensure freshness.

Also joining the market this year is River Farm Organics. They will sell a variety of fresh vegetables, including beans, Swiss chard, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, lettuces, peppers, potatoes and tomatoes. No synthetic pesticides or fertilizers are used.

Some highlights for opening day include jams and jellies, freshly potted trees and shrubs, fresh lamb, ice cream, butter, cookies and fresh baked bread, artisanal cheeses, greens and flowers and a huge variety of fresh produce, eggs, chickens, seafood, and, of course, strawberries and asparagus.

Market organizers said they are also determined to make the Historic Lewes Farmers’ Market the No. 1 market in the country, by encouraging market visitors to vote this year (starting June 1) at the American Farmland Trust Web site, at www.farmland.org.