Historic Lewes Farmers Market turns 20
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Sally Packard was one of the co-founders of the Historic Lewes Farmers Market 20 years ago. She was there July 5 to celebrate the market’s birthday.
“The first day, we ran out of everything in the first two hours. It was a miracle. But, it really worked and it’s just terrific,” Packard said.
The producer-only HLFM opened July 1, 2006, on the grounds of the Lewes Historical Society, now known as Historic Lewes.
“We had 15 vendors; 11 of them showed,” said Helaine Harris, one of the market’s co-founders, who is known as the mother of the market.
Harris said the first Saturday sales were $4,500; the same day last year took in $70,000 for the farmers.
Some of the vendors that were there that day are still coming every Saturday, and some on Wednesdays to the market at Crooked Hammock Brewery.
Susan Eliason and her brother Tommy of Kalmar Farm have been at HLFM since day one.
“We’ve met a lot of people we otherwise would never have met. We’ve made some really good connections with restaurants here, because we supply directly to a few restaurants,” she said.
Eliason said customers keep coming back for their fresh produce, including corn, watermelons and tomatoes.
Susan Selph of Milton is a regular at the market. She came prepared with a shopping cart to carry all her purchases.
“I like dark, leafy greens. The produce here is 10 times better than in the grocery store,” Selph said.
Dick Bryan kicked off the July 5 market by leading patrons through the gate on his red tractor.
Later, there was a big birthday party, featuring cakes made by five market vendors: Dru Tevis’ Brule Bakery, Kahiau Bakery, Old World Breads, The Point Coffee Shop and Bakery, and the Station on Kings.
Don Clifton, Delaware’s secretary of agriculture and a Lewes native, said the market is a testament to the volunteers.
“This enhances the community to an extent that can never be calculated. It’s just enormous. Lewes is a model for the entire state,” Clifton said.
The market also gives back to the community in a big way.
“We paid 18 local farmers to grow and provide fresh food for 19 pantries in Sussex and Kent counties,” Harris said. “We are feeding 5,000 people with fresh food from Delaware.”
HLFM is the only market in Sussex County to process and match SNAP benefits. They want to get the word out, so more people take advantage.
“We accept SNAP cards from any state. We match up to $20 of their benefits,” said Cathie Rosenfeld, an HLFM SNAP volunteer. “They can buy any food product at either the Saturday or Wednesday markets and we’ll match up to $20.”
Rosenfeld said people can donate in person at the market or on the HLFM website.
Ellie Shue, who has been the HLFM executive director for two years, said it is that kind of community engagement that will help the market continue to grow.
“We need to bring in fresh, new farmers,” she said. “We’re really excited when we are able to welcome new farmers each year to make sure we can have longevity to continue for another 20 years.”
