LEWES — The Historic Lewes Farmers Market will open for its 16th season Saturday at George H.P. Smith Park at the corner of Dupont and Johnson avenues. 

The market no longer will have one-way flow due to COVID-19 protocols. However, everyone in the market must still wear face masks and maintain 6 feet of social distancing. 

Hand sanitizer and a hand-washing station will be located at the entrance to the market in front of the Fred Thomas Building at the foot of Dupont Avenue. This area will also be open for handicapped drop-off and pickup. 

Beebe Healthcare is allowing market customers to park in its outside parking lots. Visit here to find parking and to view vendor maps for the market.

The event moves to the Richard A. Shields Elementary School parking lot at Sussex Drive and Savannah Road if it rains.

A new vendor at the market this year is Derby Mill Farm Botanicals, a first-generation flower and herb farm in Kent County. It will offer a variety of vegetable, herb and flower starts, fresh-cut flowers and herbs and more. The Station on Kings Cafe & Market is also joining the HLFM this season, selling pastries and bread, as well as grab-and-go items and beverages. 

A new heritage pork vendor, Enoch Farms, will offer thick-cut chops, roasts, scrapple, ribs, breakfast sausage, ham steaks, bacon, ground pork and a variety of sausage links, including bratwurst and sweet Italian grillers. 

302 Aquaponics joins the Saturday market, as well as small-batch kombucha maker Federal Brewing Co. Meanwhile, returning to the market is Chinky Salt Oyster Co., with bags of oysters and clams from the Chincoteague Bay, and Honey Bee Lake Apiary, with honey and honey products.

Customers are asked not to eat or drink inside the market.

Many of the market vendors take preorders. The HLFM website lists all vendors, their contact information and ordering procedures. 

For preorders, the customer may pick up at the vendor tent in the market. The market’s weekly newsletter lists featured items from vendors. To receive the newsletter, email info@historiclewesfarmersmarket.org and ask to be added to the list.

The market processes payment from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; the Women, Infants and Children program; and the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, as well as matching SNAP up to $20 per market, per customer. Go to the SNAP tent to process those payments.

The HLFM continues its partnership with the Epworth United Methodist Church Food Pantry. HLFM customers who want to help feed the local community may purchase produce, meats, milk and other food from growers at the market to donate to the Epworth program every Saturday.

At the end of the market, the produce and other foods are gathered and given to Epworth.

More information about the market is available online.