Millville hit the ground running this week with their farmers’ market, now in its second year. The market opened up last Thursday and offered fresh local produce from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., as it will for the remainder of the summer and into the second week of September.
Coastal Point • Maria Counts
A vendor bags up some vegetables during last year’s Millville Farmers’ Market.
“We had 116 cars,” said Market Master Linda Kent, adding that they count patrons’ cars and keep track of their origins. “Of the cars, 93 were from Delaware, 10 were from Pennsylvania, a couple New Jersey and some random New York and Virginia.”
New this year, the market includes Hopkins Creamery, which is located on Route 9 near Lewes. Kent said their ice cream was a bit hit with market-goers.
They also have as market vendors Beach Sweets, a bakery that also sells salsa; Bennett Orchards for blueberries and peaches (which are not quite ready yet, but will be soon); Celtic Acres, which offers vegetables and free-range eggs; Good Earth Market and Organic Farm, including Backyard Jams and Jellies; Herbs, Spice and Everything Nice; Natural Creations, a landscaping company that offers plants and flower baskets; T.S. Smith and Sons from Bridgeville, Del., with their fruits and vegetables; and Seujay Farms Inc. from Route 17, with their vegetables.
“We had seven of our nine vendors,” Kent said of the market’s roster, adding that she expects they will fill up in the coming weeks.
“We did quite well compared to last year, obviously,” she said of the opening week of their second season.
Kent said the market is also trying to get chefs to come in and do cooking demonstrations, as they do in other markets, as an additional draw for customers. Also, on June 27, they are having DNREC come in to talk about recycling. Later this summer, Beebe Medical Center will do blood pressure checks on July 11 and Aug. 8.
The markets offers recipe cards from the Delaware Department of Agriculture and free produce bags, sponsored by Millville by the Sea and Beazer Homes. It is located on the side of town hall every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Parking is available at Millville Methodist Church, across the street.
For more information, visit them online at http://millville.delaware.gov.