Farmers Market time!

There's nothing I love more on a summer afternoon than a farmers market, even though they're usually pretty expensive, limited, and with quality that can be hit or miss.  Rave review, I know - but here's the thing: nothing gives you a warm fuzzy like buying blueberries directly from the family that grew them, or bread from the woman who baked it that morning using an old family recipe, or gourmet sausage from the maker's proud dad, who will tell you all about his son's store's breakfast specials (I'm looking at you, Maiale Sausages).

According to this article on the Dept. of Ag's website, there will be a record 27 markets throughout Delaware, nearly half of them having their inaugural year (such as markets in Trolley Square and Talleyville).  And this doesn't even take into account some great markets in nearby PA, such as Kennett Square. 

That also means I have my work cut out for me as I try to include a lot of markets in my weekly calendar.  In the meantime, here's the most recent list, as published by the Dept. of Agriculture (well I was going to copy and paste it here, but the list is 7 pages long):

http://dda.delaware.gov/marketing/2012/2012Farmersmarkets.pdf

Allright, maybe just some Wilmington-centric highlights:

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Trolley Square Farmers Market (brand new this year)
Location: Delaware Ave. & DuPont Street (next to Logan House)

Days of Operation: Tuesdays

Hours of Operation: 4-7:30 pm

Cool Spring Farmers Market
Location: Cool Spring Park (10th & Jackson Streets)
Days of Operation: Thursdays
Hours of Operation: 4-8 pm

Village Fresh Farmers Market
Location: Concord Ave. & Market Street (across from the Cathedral of St. John)
Days of Operation: Thursdays
Hours of Operation: 3-6pm

(It's interesting that there are two Thursday markets relatively close to one another.  Maybe the clustering will work in their favor).

Wilmington Farmers Market
Location: Rodney Square
Days of Operation: Wednesdays
Hours of Operation: 10-2

Carousel Park Farmers Market
Location: 3700 Limestone Road (Rt. 7), Pike Creek
Days of Operation: Fridays

Hours of Operation: 2-6pm

(I'm surprised the Carousel Park market is continuing, actually - they had half the vendors last summer as the year before.  But it's such a great park, with a good portion of it dedicated to a dog park, that it's worth a visit if you're free on Friday afternoons).

Co-Op Farmers Market

Location: Newark Natural Foods, 280 E. Main Street, Newark

Days of Operation: Sundays

Hours of Operation: 10-2

Kennett Square Farmers Market
Location: the main intersection in Kennett
Days of Operation: Fridays
Hours of Operation: 2-6pm

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There are also a ton of markets downstate, useful for that week at the beach.  The ones closer to the beach areas tend to be very expensive but very scenic and fun for a walk-through, and the ones further inland tend to have more reasonable prices.  Check out the Dept. of Ag. list I linked above.

Note: I decided to stop putting that apostrophe after the word "Farmers".  I started doing it last year because the News Journal or the Spark wrote it that way, but then I realized that the Department of Agriculture's own website does not put that possession apostrophe at the end.  And maybe it's kind of precious to do so.  So the apostrophe is out.  How nerdy am I that I had to just sit here and explain that.