Events and Happenings at the Historic Lewes Farmers Market
America’s Favorite Farmers Market Contest
We need your vote today! American Farmland Trust is sponsoring the first ever America’s Favorite Farmers Market Contest. Farmer’s market customers across the country will cast their vote for the best farmers market, and we want the Historic Lewes Farmers Market to be in the running. One large, medium, and small farmers market will win the title of America’s Favorite Farmers Market in 2009. We have registered the HLFM to be in the contest. Please go to America’s Favorite Farmers Market Contest, and vote for the Historic Lewes Farmers Market.
Market Terms—It’s all in the definition!
Recently, someone asked us just what “free-range” meant, and we realized that there are a lot of terms that are used at farmers markets that need definition. We thought it would be helpful to give some definitions of commonly used Market terms. So let’s start with “free-range.”
Free-range implies that a meat or poultry product comes from an animal that was raised in the open air or was free to roam. When used on poultry products, “free range” is regulated by the USDA and means that the birds have been given access to the outdoors, but for an undetermined period each day. “Free-range” clams on red meats and eggs are not regulated. Please note that free-range egg producers have no standard on what the term means. Many egg farmers sell their eggs as free-range simply because their cages are two or three inches more than standard size, or because there is a window in the shed. It’s always best to ask the farmer directly what he or she follows to label their products “free-range”—just one of many reasons to buy at a farmers market—you meet the producer face-to-face, and can find out how your food is grown
Our New Comcast Ad
We thought that you would like to see our new Comcast Ad promoting the Market. Look for it all summer long on various Comcast programs.
HLFM Meets with New Delaware Secretary of Agriculture, Ed Kee
Meanwhile, back in Delaware, the new Delaware Secretary of Agriculture, Ed Kee, invited representatives from all farmers markets to attend a Market Manager’s meeting with him and Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) staff to identify how the DDA can help Delaware farmers markets. Two members of the HLFM board attended the meeting, as did representatives from the Bethany, Fenwick, Rehoboth, Milford, Seaford, and Dover markets. In the past, the Delaware Department of Agriculture has helped the markets identify vendors and has provided general advertising promoting farmers markets in the State. The farmers market representatives will continue to meet as a group with the DDA to work on promotion of the markets. We are also working with the DDA to bring the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) to Delaware. Through this program, eligible WIC participants are issued additional FMNP coupons in addition to their regular WIC coupons. The FMNP coupons can then be used to purchase fresh, unprepared fruits, vegetables, and herbs from farmers markets, farmers, or roadside stands that have been approved by the state agency overseeing the program. This program is currently available in 46 states, and we feel that it is extremely important that we make Delaware the 47th state to have this program.
HLFM Funds Shields Elementary School Raised Bed Garden Project
We sent a check for $500 to Dr. Patricia Magee at Shields Elementary to fund a raised bed garden project at the school. The project will teach children about composting, soil testing and preparation, germination, harvesting, and other gardening topics by allowing them to get their hands dirty in their own sustainable garden at the School. There is an epidemic of childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents in this country, and we believe that this program will also help educate our children at Shields about healthy eating and the importance of physical activity. We are committed in this community to helping educate our children on the importance of a healthy diet, exercise, and taking care of our resources, and salute Dr. Magee and Shields for their advocacy of this program.
HLFM Store Posters:
Every year, we print store posters detailing the time and locations of the HLFM market. If you manage or work in a local store, and would like one to put into your window, please contact us at historiclewesfarmersmarket@comcast.net or call us at 302-644-1436, and we will see that you get one.
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Come shop for fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, flowers and more! If you would like to volunteer for the market, become a vendor or have any questions or ideas, please contact us at at historiclewesfarmersmarket@comcast.net or 302-644-1436.
