Historic Lewes Farmers Market opens for season
With several bells rung by invited officials May 6, the 18th year of the Historic Lewes Farmers Market opened for the season at George H.P. Smith Park. The market is open 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday through Sept. 30, and the second market at Crooked Hammock, off Kings Highway, is open Wednesdays from 8 to 11:30 a.m., June 7 through Sept. 6. The fall market at the Lewes Elementary School parking lot takes place Saturday, Oct. 7, through Saturday, Nov. 18.
Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Michael Scuse, who attends opening day each year, said, “This is the most profitable and successful market in Delaware.”
Market manager Helaine Harris said it takes 100 volunteers to run the market. “We keep money in the community and help local farmers,” she said.
A group of 33 local farmers/producers was on hand, and Heirloom Restaurant provided a cooking demonstration.
For a list of vendors and for more information on the market, go to historiclewesfarmersmarket.org.
The market processes payments from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, and Women, Infants and Children program benefits, and continues to match SNAP up to $20 per market, per customer, which comes from donations.
The market continues its food pantry purchase program. Market customers can purchase produce, meats, milk and other food to donate to this program every Saturday. The produce and other foods are given to various food pantries, including Epworth United Methodist Church and Casa San Francisco.
