Delaware farmers’ markets set new sales record: $2.1 million

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DOVER – Delaware’s community farmers’ markets set a new sales record in 2013, with shoppers buying more than $2.1 million in fresh produce and other goods, the Department of Agriculture said Tuesday.

Gov. Jack Markell and Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee announced the news at an annual farmers’ market managers’ meeting in Dover, praising their work and the work of the many growers and producers who sell at the markets.

“This record-setting year is a perfect example of what can happen when communities, business and government work together to increase economic opportunities and strengthen our neighborhoods,” Gov. Markell said. “These markets offer Delaware’s best farm-fresh products to consumers and create vibrant gathering spots in our towns and cities.”

The markets help support farmers by offering another sales outlet, but also by directly connecting growers and consumers, Kee said.

“Interest in healthy eating and local foods has been dramatically on the rise in Delaware. There is no better way to encourage that than by giving shoppers the opportunity to have conversations with the men and women who nurture and grow their corn, lettuce, sweet potatoes, watermelons and apples,” Kee said. “This success is directly due to the leadership of our market managers and community leaders, and we want to help them expand and grow as we continue to move agricultural opportunities forward.”

Sales for 2013, which featured 26 markets in all three counties, passed $2.1 million, up $200,000 over 2012. Four years ago, the 2010 season had 14 market sites and $1.3 million in sales.

Produce made up 62 percent of the total sales, with the remainder coming from value-added products such as meats, cheeses, jellies, breads, salsa, eggs or honey.

Delaware’s farmers’ markets are all run at the local level, by municipalities, business groups, farmers or market associations, with the Delaware Department of Agriculture providing support and marketing assistance.

Use of the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card system is growing steadily, allowing families to purchase local produce and food items as part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Six markets offered transactions during 2013, for $2,300 in sales. The Wilmington Farmers Market at Cool Spring Park also had more than $9,000 in sales through its community-supported agriculture program made through the EBT network. Several other markets are planning to expand into the program in 2014.

The 2014 farmers’ market season will begin in April with the opening of the Milton market. Most markets start their operations in May, June and July. A full schedule will be released later this spring.

Farmers and others interested in becoming a vendor, or community groups interested in starting a local market, can contact Department of Agriculture marketing specialist David Smith at (302) 698-4522 or davidm.smith@delaware.gov.

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Contact:
Dan Shortridge
Chief of Community Relations
Delaware Department of Agriculture
302-698-4520
daniel.shortridge@delaware.gov


Find a locally-grown Christmas tree from a Delaware farmer

DOVER — More than 30 Delaware farmers have Christmas trees available for First State merrymakers this holiday season, with firs, spruces and pines in abundance – and easy to find and buy with the Delaware Fresh mobile app. The app and a related website, de.gov/christmastrees, feature locations, hours and other shopping information.

“It’s great family fun to pick out just the right locally-grown tree for your house,” said Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee. “Buying from a Delaware farm is a guarantee to get the freshest tree and support our local tree farmers at the same time.”

Growing Christmas trees is a specialized business in Delaware, with growers selecting particular varieties for attractiveness or other features. It typically takes seven to 10 years to grow a thriving 7-foot-tall First State Christmas tree. This is the busiest time of year for Delaware’s Christmas tree farmers, Kee said, but they work year-round to care for their trees.

The Delaware Fresh app is available free for download on Android, iPhone and Windows 8 phone platforms at https://delaware.gov/apps/.

To pick the right tree, examine it carefully, looking out for these details:

>> The shape and size of a tree will depend on where you plan to place it and the height of the ceiling in your home. Some people want a more slender tree like a fir, while others like a larger, fuller tree like a spruce, and still others prefer a fuller, bushier tree like a pine.

>> Although most people prefer a well-rounded and shapely tree, you may find it more practical and economical to buy one that is somewhat flat or sparsely branched in one side, so that it fits into a corner or against a wall.

>> While “choose-and-cut” purchasers gain in popularity, families that buy their trees from retail lots can also check for freshness. They can test cut trees by bending needles to check resilience (if it springs back into position, the tree is fresh); bumping the base of the tree on the ground (if the needles don’t fall, the tree is fresh); and feeling the bottom of the trunk (if sappy and moist, the tree is fresh).

When the tree is home, families still need to care for it to make it stay fresh throughout the season:

>> Keep a cut tree in a cool, shaded area, sheltered from wind, with the trunk in a bucket of water until you are ready for set up.

>> Just before putting a cut tree into its stand, cut an inch or two off the butt end. This fresh cut will allow the tree to more readily take up water once it is moved inside.

>> Fresh trees take up water at a very fast rate. You should check the water level two hours after setting up the tree. Then, check the water level at least once daily to see that it is above the bottom of the tree’s trunk. It is not uncommon for trees to take up a quart or more of water daily.

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Contact:
Dan Shortridge
Chief of Community Relations
Delaware Department of Agriculture
302-698-4520