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Strong first week for Delaware farmers markets. Are millennials the reason?

James Morrison
/
Delaware Public Media

Farmers markets in the First State saw strong demand as they opened this past week, and the 20 somethings known as “millennials” may have helped.  

 

Anita Moos with the Newark Co-op Farmers Market said people were anxiously awaiting opening day this past Sunday.

 

“We had over 1,000 customers and many of our vendors sold out of their products,” she said. 

Newark Co-op Farmer's Market

This is the 17th year for the market and Moos said that’s a record number of visitors for an opening day.  

She credits the success to a growing demand for fresh and local food, especially among the people in their 20’s known as millennials.

Pat Colluzzi founded the Rehoboth Beach Farmers Market 11 years ago and said she’s also seen a growing number of millennial visitors, which is changing how some vendors do business.

“The younger people tend to want more prepared foods. We have a vendors who make salads and different things. We also have a vendor who does pasta,” she said. 

The Rehoboth Beach Farmers Market, like many around the state, posted strong visitation on its first day last week.  

 

Strawberries, leafy greens and plants for people’s gardens were some of the top sellers.

 

Farmers markets in Delaware posted near record sales last year. They were just shy of the $3 million peak reached in 2015.

 

Newark Co-op Farmer's Market on Opening Day.

The state will have three less markets this year though, and that could hurt 2017 sales totals in Delaware.

 

But, individually, many markets are expecting a record-breaking year since EBT cards are now more widely being accepted. 

 

 

 

Markets not coming back this summer:

 

Wilson Farmer’s Market. Sussex County

 

Garden Shack in Millsboro. Sussex County

 

Delaware Avenue Farmers Market in Wilmington. NCCo.  

 

 

   

Delaware Farmers' Market Sales
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