By Glenn Rolfe

MILTON — With a switch to auxiliary power, there will be a farmers market this year in Milton after all.

The Milton Fire Department’s Ladies Auxiliary has come to the rescue, with plans for a late-May-through-September weekly market on property owned by the department across from its Front Street base.

May 28 is the opener for Broadkill Farmers Market, which will run from 4-7 p.m. each Friday through September.

“People expressed interest in trying to bring the farmers market back to downtown Milton,” said the Ladies Auxiliary President Mary Ann Warrington. “We have a lot across the street that sits right on the riverbank. It’s a pretty piece of property. People just kind of hit me up and said, ‘Why don’t you guys let the farmers market be downtown? Why don’t you let it be on that property?’”

The auxiliary went to the fire department’s board and was granted permission.

Krista Scudlark, owner of Milton-based Backyard Jams & Jellies, is among the vendors thrilled to hear the void is being filled, following the cancellation by the farmers market’s board of directors in March. The board moved to cancel this year’s market for various reasons, including COVID-19 restrictions and financial concerns.

“This is a whole different group,” said Ms. Scudlark. “I did sign up. I sent in the application. I live two blocks from there!”

As of Monday, Ms. Warrington said the Broadkill Farmers Market has secured nine sellers who are extremely committed and another seven or so “who are on the fence, but they are very interested.”

Vendors feature variety, including fresh produce, jams and jellies, aquaponics, nursery items, hand lotions/oils, hard/softshell crabs, baked goods and cut flowers, with others anticipated.

In addition to a view of the $4 million fire station renovation scheduled to be formally christened July 17, the Broadkill Farmers Market may, at some point, incorporate added attractions.

“I have not yet entertained music. With COVID, I basically am trying to establish the foundation first and get some vendors and try to get the public back,” Ms. Warrington said. “From Facebook, everybody is so excited about it. I am getting great feedback from the community.”

Excitement for the 2021 farmers market season is rippling across the region.

“We’re definitely excited to attend farmers markets. We attend producers-only farmers markets, so everyone grows what they sell,” said Henry Bennett of Bennett Orchards in Frankford. “Last year, we were trying to get markets open and being ‘essential’ and all of that, so we’re a lot more optimistic this year. With it looking like restrictions being lifted, it looks like it’s going to be a great summer for everyone. We didn’t have any frost events. And it looks like we’re going to have a bumper crop this year. So we’re very optimistic this year, especially after how hard 2020 was for everyone.”

Bennett Orchards attends a number of weekly markets in Delaware and several in Maryland.
Stag Run Farm, west of Georgetown, relies heavily on farmers markets, with plans to attend those in Ocean Pines, Maryland; Lewes; and Rehoboth Beach. And, in early June, Stag Run will be part of the Crooked Hammock Brewery market, an offshoot of the Historic Lewes Farmers Market.

“Our farm, we survive on the farmers markets. We do have a little store, … but this farm, we need the retail sales from the farmers markets,” said Stag Run co-owner Lenore Brady. “Farmers markets are our lifeline.”

Nassau Valley Vineyard is offering something special at its farmers market this year, using Stag Run Farm’s apple cider.

“We’re very excited Nassau Valley Winery just introduced apple blossom wine off our orchard. That was kind of cool,” said Ms. Brady. “It’s a local winery producing local apple blossom wine from our orchard.”

As summer approaches, some farmers markets have already opened, with others looming.
This year, manpower is of some concern.

“Absolutely, I would take a robot right now,” said Ms. Brady. “It is absolutely very stressful this year. I thought COVID was stressful, but this year is stressful with fuel costs and labor. Those two have really hit the farm kind of hard. We’re excited. It’s a good season, but fuel costs and labor are a big concern for us this year.”

Ms. Warrington said she’s heard about this problem, too.

“Some of the vendors that I have spoken to would love to come, but they are telling me they can’t because they don’t have enough help, which is being echoed across, I am sure, probably the whole country,” she said. “But certainly, we see it in our community here today. ‘Help wanted’ signs everywhere.

“I hope that the community recognizes the struggles of what everyone is going through and supports these farmers that do come out and try to bring the product to the town,” Ms. Warrington said.

Mr. Bennett sees a silver lining.

“I know, with every business right now, labor is a huge issue. But right now, we’re good. We’re lucky to have the people that we have return and continue working for us. We’ve all been working together alongside each other throughout the pandemic, so it’s great that everyone is vaccinated and can work together,” he said. “Restrictions are easing, and Mother Nature is cooperating. That’s a rarity sometimes in farming, but we’re very happy that it is, hopefully, going to be a good year for us.”

Plans for the Capital City Farmers Market in Loockerman Way Plaza in Dover were being finalized this week.

“We had to wait kind of (until) the last minute with the governor’s restrictions, so we’re trying to kind of scurry,” said Diane Laird of the Downtown Dover Partnership. Information will be posted on the market’s Facebook site when available.

Department of Agriculture guidance

In light of the changes to COVID-19 protocols coming Friday, the Delaware Department of Agriculture has updated its guidance for farmers markets, according to department spokeswoman Stacey Hofmann.

This information is available here and will also be effective Friday.

“Individual farmers markets may choose to implement more specific and stringent protocols established by their market managers and their separate governing entities and agencies,” said Ms. Hofmann. “But, overall, they are excited to meet the needs of consumers who want to access locally grown and produced products directly from family farms and small, local businesses.”

Changes that are already underway this season or will take effect Friday include:

• Two-way traffic within the market.
• Return of food trucks and prepared food for consumption on-site.
• Ability to have entertainment, music, demonstrations and community displays once again.
• Increase in capacity restrictions.

The Department of Agriculture still encourages the public, vendors and volunteers to wear face coverings while attending farmers markets. At times, the markets can have very high attendance, so people might not safely maintain a 3-foot distance from others, Ms. Hofmann said.