Find a farmers market every day of the week in Delaware
The month of May brings flowers, showers and the beginning of the farmers market season.
The number of U.S. farmers markets has grown more than 75 percent since 2008, hitting nearly 8,400 this year, according to federal data.
But vegetable consumption among the general population actually has shrunk, according to the latest available USDA figures, slipping from an annual high of 424 pounds per person in 2004 to 395 pounds per person in 2012. Chefs, however, remain undeterred.
"This is the way people want to eat," chef and restaurant mogul Jose Andres said via email. "We have been consistently adding more vegetable dishes to the menus at our restaurants because we are seeing the demand from our guests."
Andres debuted his own new vegetable-centric restaurant, Beefsteak – named for the tomato – in Washington, D.C., in late March. A second Washington location is scheduled to open later this year.
Last week, BrewHaHa! owner and founder Alisa Morkides opened Sunna Juice Bar & Café at 1420 N. DuPont St. in Wilmington's Rockford Shops. The eatery has sandwiches stuffed with eggplant, tomatoes, wild mushrooms and fresh greens as well as smoothies made with fresh fruits and kale.
Delaware is keeping pace with market growth and the newest farmers market in New Castle County opens Thursday at the Garfield Park PAL Center. It joins the already established Rockwood Park farmers market, also opening on Thursday, as well as markets at Carousel and Glasgow parks, which both welcome customers on Friday.
All four markets run through the end of October.
In 2014, the New Castle County Farmers Market program saw about $166,000 in sales, and more than 14,000 visitors.
The 2015 Downtown Wilmington Farmers Market in Rodney Square celebrated its opening May 13, and this season it promises a bigger and better experience for visitors.
The market is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Wednesday, rain or shine, through Oct. 14. (However, it will be closed June 17 for the annual Jazz Fest.)
Vendors sell local produce, plants, herbs and cut flowers, an assortment of arts and crafts and baked goods. Cafe tables are umbrellas and several food trucks, including I Don't Give A Fork, Wildwich, Kapow and KOI on the Go, have a wide array of foods.
Here's a day-by-day look at some seasonal farmers' markets operating in 2015 in and around the state. In the map above, Tuesday have blue markers; Wednesdays have orangey-yellow markers; Thursdays have purple; Fridays have coral markers; Saturdays have green markers; Sundays have light blue markers
MONDAY (also Saturdays)
Fenwick Island Farmers Market,www.fenwickislandfarmersmarket.com/
WHERE: Coastal Highway and East Essex Street, Fenwick Island,
WHEN: 8 a.m.-noon, June 19-Sept. 7
CONTACT: Albert Hudson at (302) 436-2103 or skhudson51@gmail.com
TUESDAY
Delaware Avenue Farmers' Market,delawareave.wordpress.com/
WHERE: 1727 Delaware Ave. (corner of Delaware Avenue and Scott Street), Wilmington
WHEN: 4-7:30 p.m., through Oct. 27
CONTACT: James Lee at (302) 562-5132 or lee-advisor@operamail.com
Rehoboth Beach Farmers Market,www.rbfarmersmarket.com
WHERE: Grove Park, Rehoboth Avenue (adjacent to Lighthouse Circle), Rehoboth Beach
WHEN: Noon-4 p.m., through Sept. 29; noon-3 p.m., Oct. 6-Oct. 27 and Nov. 28
CONTACT: Pat Coluzzi at pat@coluzziconsulting.com
WEDNESDAY
Downtown Wilmington Farmers Market
WHERE: Rodney Square, 10th and Market streets in downtown Wilmington
WHEN: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., through Oct. 14
CONTACT: Marty Hageman at mhageman@downtownvisions.org or call (302) 425-5370
WHERE: 16 Mile Brewery, 413 South Bedford Street, Georgetown,
WHEN: 3-6 p.m., May 20 through Sept. 16
CONTACT: Christel Folke at (302) 259-6443 or c.folke@dtcc.edu
The Farmers' Market at Sea Colony
WHERE: Marketplace at Sea Colony Shopping Center parking lot, Del. 1, South Bethany Beach
WHEN: 8 a.m.-noon, June 24-Aug. 26
CONTACT: Carrie Bennett at carrie@bennettorchards.com
Loockerman Way Farmers' Market,downtowndoverpartnership.com
WHERE: 26 Loockerman Way, Dover
WHEN: Noon-4 p.m., June 17 through Sept. 9
CONTACT: Amy Mullen at (302) 359-9532 or amy@downtowndoverpartnership.com
THURSDAY
Rockwood Park and Museum
WHERE: 4651 Washington Street Extension, Brandywine Hundred
WHEN: 3 to 7 p.m. beginning Thursday, May 21
CONTACT: Visit New Castle County's website at www.nccde.org/farmersmarkets
Route 9 Farmers' Market at Garfield Park PAL Center and Lending Library
WHERE: 26 Karlyn Drive, New Castle
WHEN: 3 to 7 p.m. beginning Thursday, May 21
CONTACT: Visit New Castle County's website at www.nccde.org/farmersmarkets
Wilmington Farmers Market at Cool Spring Park (see Facebook page)
WHERE: Cool Spring Park, 10th and Jackson streets, Wilmington
WHEN: 4-8 p.m., June 18-Oct. 1
CONTACT: Mike McCafferty at (302) 690-5079 or mmcafferty @westendnh.org
WHERE: Millville Town Hall, (next door to Town Hall building), 36404 Clubhouse Road, Millville
WHEN: 8 a.m.-Noon, June 18 through Sept. 10
CONTACT: Linda Kent at (302) 539-1358 or lindamlkent64@hotmail.com
Planting Hope Urban in Delaware
WHERE: Herman Holloway Campus, DHSS, Springer Building Lobby, 1901 N. Dupont Highway, New Castle
WHEN: 11 a.m.-2 p.m., June 16 through Sept. 15
CONTACT: Gail Hermenau at (302) 255-2843 or gail.hermenau@state.de.us
WHERE: Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, 5105 Kennett Pike. In front of the Winterthur Museum Store at the Cottage. No ticket is required for the Farm Stand or Gift Shop. Parking is available behind the cottage near the Winterthur Post
WHEN: 1:30-5:30 p.m., July through September
CONTACT: (800) 448-3883
FRIDAY
WHERE: Carousel Park Equestrian Center, 3700 Limestone Road, Pike Creek
WHEN: 3-7 p.m., May 22 through Oct. 30
CONTACT: Michael Begatto at (302) 395-5624 or mbegatto@nccde.org
Fenwick Island Farmers Market,www.fenwickislandfarmersmarket.com/
WHERE: Coastal Highway and East Essex Street, Fenwick Island,
WHEN: 8 a.m.-noon, June 19 through Sept. 7
CONTACT: Albert Hudson at (302) 436-2103 or skhudson51@gmail.com
Fresh Friday Farmers Market
WHERE: Nemours Plaza, 10th and Tatnall streets, Wilmington
WHEN: 10 a.m.-3 p.m., through Oct. 30
CONTACT: Tucker Casey at (302) 425-0196 or tcasey@downtownvisions.org
Fresh Friday at French Street Farmers' Market
WHERE: Second and French streets, Wilmington
WHEN: 10 a.m.-3 p.m., June 5 through Oct. 16
CONTACT: Tucker Casey at (302) 425-0196 or tcasey@downtownvisions.org
Glasgow Park Farmers Market
WHERE: Glasgow Park, 2275 Pulaski Highway (near intersection of U.S. 40 and Del. 896)
WHEN: 3-7 p.m., through Oct. 10
CONTACT: Michael Begatto at (302) 395-5624 or mbegatto@nccde.org
Kennett Square (Pa.) Farmers Market
WHERE: 101 E. State St., downtown Kennett Square, Pa.
WHEN: 2-6 p.m., through November
CONTACT: Visit historickennettsquare.com
Milton Farmers Market
WHERE: Union and Magnolia streets, (across from the Milton Library), Milton
ALTERNATIVE LOCATION: Every fourth Friday market to be held at Dogfish Head Brewery, 703 Chestnut Street, Milton,
WHEN: 3-6 p.m., through Oct. 4
CONTACT: Jim Crellin at (302) 684-8963 or jimjr@crellinfamily.com
Southbridge Farmers' Market
WHERE: Elbert-Palmer School, 1210 Lobdell Street, Wilmington, DE 19809
WHEN: 3-7 p.m., June 5 - Sept. 25
CONTACT: Akira Grenardo at (908) 313-3159 or grenardo@hotmail.com
SATURDAY
Bellefonte Farmers Market (Facebook page)
WHERE: 500 Duncan Road (Bellevue Community Center), Wilmington,
WHEN: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., June 6-Aug. 29
CONTACT: Susan Strawbridge at (302) 762-1391, extension 101; bellevuecc.org/
Blue Hen Farmers' Market
WHERE: 800 Rose Valley School Road (Blue Hen Poultry Supply), Dover
WHEN: 8 a.m.-1 p.m., May 30 through Oct. 17
CONTACT: Jessica Carey at (302) 883-3393 or bluehenpoultryjess@gmail.com
Historic Lewes Farmers Market,www.historiclewesfarmersmarket.org/
NOTE: The Historic Lewes Farmers Market operates at different locations on different dates as specified below.
WHERE: Lewes Historical Society Complex, 110 Shipcarpenter Street, Lewes, all Saturdays except June 27, July 11 and Aug. 1. The alternate location on those dates is Richard A. Shields Elementary School (parking lot), intersection of Savannah Road and Sussex Drive, Lewes
WHEN: 8 a.m.-noon, through Sept. 26. 9 a.m.-noon, Oct. 4-Nov. 22
CONTACT: Call (302) 644-1436 or e-mail historiclewesfarmersmarket@comcast.net
New Garden Growers' Market,www.newgardengrowers.com/
WHERE: Pa. 41 in front of the New Garden Township Maintenance Garage. Newport Gap Pike, Avondale, Pa.
WHEN: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., through Nov. 21
CONTACT: info@newgardengrowers.com
Riverwalk Farmers Market Downtown Milford,www.downtownmilford.org
WHERE: North Walnut Street at Riverwalk Park, Milford
WHEN: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., through Oct. 3
CONTACT: Lee Nelson at (302) 839-1180 or farmersmarket@downtownmilford.org
West Chester (Pa.) Growers Market, www.westchestergrowersmarket.com/
WHERE: The corner of North Church and West Chestnut streets in downtown West Chester, Pa.
WHEN: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., through December
SUNDAY
Bethany Beach Farmers Market,www.bethanybeachfarmersmarket.com/
WHERE: Garfield Parkway and Pennsylvania Avenue, Bethany Beach
WHEN: 8 a.m.-noon, June 14-Aug. 30
CONTACT: Doug Mowrey at (301) 717-0492 or dougmowrey@gmail.com
WHERE: Newark Natural Foods store parking lot, 280 E. Main St.
WHEN: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., through Nov. 22
CONTACT: Alison DePaola at (302) 368-5894 or marketmaster@newarknaturalfoods.com
Smyrna Farmers' Market
WHERE: Painted Stave Distilling, 106 West Commerce Street (site of Old Smyrna Theatre)
WHEN: Noon to 4 p.m., June 7 through Nov. 1
CONTACT: Robin Bruner at (302) 653-2040 or smyrnafarmersmarket@gmail.com
This article contains information from the Associated Press. Contact Patricia Talorico at (302) 324-2861 or ptalorico@delawareonline.com. Read her culinary blog Second Helpings at www.delawareonline.com/blog/secondhelpings and follow her on Twitter @pattytalorico.