Delaware farmers market season starts in April

Spring is here and farmers markets throughout Delaware soon will be in bloom.

Twenty-three community-run farmers markets are set to open over the next three months, according to the state Department of Agriculture.

Three will open in April, followed by 12 in May and eight in June.

This year’s season will begin April 7 with the launch of Lewes’ Garden Shack Farmers Market – a new entry near Rehoboth Beach.

“We didn’t plan to be first, but we’re definitely excited it worked out that way,” said co-founder Laura Kucharik.

She and her husband Tom will hold the weekly farmers market at Garden Shack Farm, their 3-year-old flower, vegetable and herb farm at 19884 Beaver Dam Road.

“A lot of customers had suggested other things we could grow,” Laura said. “But there are so many great farmers growing locally already, we thought it would be a better idea to just bring them all together.”

So far, Garden Shack Farm has signed 20 vendors for its weekly market each Thursday from 2 to 6 p.m. The Sussex County Mobile Library also has signed on to attend every third Thursday, starting with the April 7 opening.

The Garden Shack Farmers Market could be a big hit if last year’s statewide sales numbers are any indication.

Delaware’s 2015 season set a new record with more than $3 million in sales among 27 farmers markets. That’s a $390,000 increase from a year earlier and a ninefold jump from 2007.

State ag spokesman Dan Shortridge said the fewer number of markets this year is not a reason for concern.

“We’ve been in the mid 20s for several years now, but the exact number moves around a bit, he said.”

All community-run farmers markets are operated a the local level, typically by municipalities, business groups or farmers associations

Nine markets this year will allow families to buy produce and other food items with Electronic Benefits Transfer cards or EBT.

For a fill list of farmers markets throughout the state – including locations, hours and dates of operation – visit de.gov/buylocal.

Contact business reporter Scott Goss at (302) 324-2281, sgoss@delawareonline.com or on Twitter @ScottGossDel.