Fresh produce coming to Dawn’s market

A new farmers market will open March 7 at Dawn's Country Market outside Milton.

Each Wednesday, Dawn’s will feature a fresh produce and crafts market from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Route 1 and Cave Neck Road farm.

Wally and Dawn Goff hope the market will give vendors, farmers and local crafts people a new place to sell their goods. It also provides one more opportunity for residents to pick up fresh, locally-grown produce.

“We are in the process of contacting people to build up the number of vendors at the market,” said Wally Goff. “We hope to get people to come out to the farm and enjoy the market.”

The Goffs grow produce on their farm and purchase items from a farm in Bridgeville. Dawn’s Country Market features a petting zoo where children and adults can mingle with chickens, goats, pigs, turkeys and Chunk-Chunk, the cow.

Goff said the best moments are unexpected. Earlier this week, a spry 70-year-old stopped by the farm and asked if she could go into the henhouse to get her own eggs. Goff was pleased and showed her the way.

“This is why we opened the market here,” Goff said. “We want people to come and interact with the animals."

"For many children this will be the only time they touch an actual chicken,” he said.

Dawn’s Country Market opened in 2009 with a small store and a few animals. After renovating existing buildings and outfitting them to fit his needs, Goff has expanded to a larger market, rescued additional animals and expanded to provide fresh eggs, produce and farm-raised pork products to the community.

In the past year, he started selling outdoor play equipment for children through a company in Lancaster, Pa. He displays the equipment and pricing information, and the customers place an order. The company installs each play set for the customer.

Other vendors sell sea glass jewelry and more in the market. Goff also hopes to bring small businesses to the site where they can rent a small shop. Clean Cut Grooming opened at Dawn’s Country Market earlier this year.

“I would like to provide space for other vendors who could rent from me for cheaper than other larger spaces,” Goff said. “There is room to grow here, and I have a lot of plans for the future.”

For more information on Dawn’s Country Market, or to sign up as a vendor for the March farmers markets, call Wally Goff at 302-373-4787. Dawn’s Country Market is located on Cave Neck Road at Route 1 in Milton.

Pekin ducks living happy life

Wally and Dawn Goff rescued four Pekin ducks from Rehoboth Beach. The fifth duck went to a woman in Maryland, who wanted it to keep her other duck company.

Goff keeps the ducks in a separate pen with a pond and the three ducks he already had.

"They are loving life," Goff said. "They are friendly, but when it's time to feed they get noisy to let me know it's time for corn."