Jim Frost of Deale buys fresh tomatoes from Elizabeth Wilkerson at the Deale Farmer’s Market on Thursday. Photo by Mitchelle Stephenson.
The Deale Farmer's Market opened about four weeks ago in the parking lot of the Cedar Grove United Methodist Church. The half-dozen local farmers are there from 3 to 6 p.m. every Thursday until Oct. 29.
Gail Wilkerson is one of the founding farmers operating out of the Deale location. Her family farm in Tracys Landing has been in operation for seven decades. They sell their produce themselves at the farmer's market in Deale and also at the Annapolis farmer's market on Riva Road on Saturdays.
On a recent Thursday, Gail had a nice variety displayed: beans, peppers, eggplant, potatoes, corn, melons, cucumbers, cabbage, beets, tomatoes and squash, as well as fresh bunches of zinnias.
At the neighboring stall, Bill Morris of Deep Cove Farm in Churchton had about a dozen different varieties of heirloom tomatoes. There were fat yellow and orange Brandywines, deep purple Cherokees and white and black plum tomatoes. Deep Cove also grows peppers, both spicy - like habaneros, Anaheim and jalapenos - and sweet in unusual colors like white and purple.
The customers at the Deale market are a mix of old and young.
"In the Deale market, a lot of our customers are older … they think the homegrown varieties are better," Gail said. "We have basically local people who are coming and appreciate local fruits and vegetables," she said.
Norman Marshall is a Deale native who has been coming to the farmer's market in Deale "from day one."
"I come here because it's convenient. I used to raise it myself, but now I come here," Norman said.
Shelly Schild of Churchton brought her friend Rhonda Oros of Houston, who was in town visiting for the week. They were perusing different kinds of tomatoes from Bill's stand. They took their time listening to Bill describe the different flavors associated with each tomato. Then they carefully reviewed the quality of each and made their selection.
Since all of Bill's tomatoes are the same price, they were able to mix and match from a couple different types of tomatoes.
"Whenever I come here for a visit, I make her take me to the farm market for these tomatoes," Rhonda said. "He has a nice variety of heirlooms."
With their tomatoes all bagged up, the two women were ready for dinner. Shelly had earlier bought some fresh mozzarella cheese and basil.
"We're planning on a Caprisi salad for dinner tonight," Shelly said as they headed for their car.
Down the line of farmers Frank Gouin of Up A Krik Farm was selling peaches and nectarines. He sells those through July and August. Come September, he'll switch over to persimmons until he sells out. Frank also sells some of his daughter's homemade jams and jellies.
He had a little sample tray set out with blackberry-rhubarb, raspberry-rhubarb and an interesting blend of peaches and habanero peppers called "Radioactive Peach."
That last one definitely isn't for the faint-hearted jelly connoisseur.
Frank also sells his fruit to other, independent farm stand vendors along Route 2 in south county, but he said he has been participating in the Deale Farmer's Market since it opened eight yearsago.
For the farmers, it is a way to get the food to consumers in the freshest possible condition. For the local shopper, it is a way to stay connected to the source of their food.
The trend to "buy local" may or may not be a help to the farmers at the Deale Farmer's Market each Thursday, but it certainly isn't hurting. Last Thursday, the weather was hot and sticky, but business was brisk.
Gail said that the farmers get started with their plantings toward the end of March in preparation for a July opening of the market.
"In spring, you start plowing the fields back, and then during the growing season, it's sunup until sundown," Gail said.
This spring there was a lot of rain, so many local farmers lost their early corn crops and beans. "Some rotted or washed out of the ground," Gail said.
But after the initial bad luck, things greatly improved.
"Right now, the corn is really good," Gail said. "We've always been known for our corn," she added.
Gail, her husband Eldridge, daughter Elizabeth and the rest of the farmers at the market will be on site at the corner of Deale Road and Deale-Churchton Road until the end of October.
Stop by - your taste buds will be glad you did.
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