January 3rd, 2016
We really should not complain here in Southern Delaware. The temperatures so far have been great and it has felt like summer all through the Holidays. But, as we start a new year, and being that it is January, the temperatures dipped a bit this a.m. Thinking about the blue waters of San Juan. Getting to Puerto Rico is pretty easy. It is a relatively short flight and there are daily flights from Baltimore (BWI) and Philly.
Every first Sunday of the month the Mercado Urbano or Farmers Market takes place at 1054 Ashford Avenue…9 a.m. until 5 p.m. It is a great way to get up close and personal with farmers, and artists. It is a family affair with plenty of food for everyone. This will be the first Mercado Urbano of 2016!!
This time of the year in San Juan the temperatures will be in the low 8Os, which is great for walking and exploring the Condado area. Mercado Urbano is also ocean front.
Fresh coconut water.
Local produce.
Every Sunday there will be paella.
Local cookies…bring back childhood memories.
Cod Fish Cakes or Bacalaitos. They are so good, and yes they are fattening.
Fresh Pasta.
Throughout the day there are plenty of activities. On Sunday, December 3rd from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. Yoga with Lara. All you have to do is bring your mat.
From 10 a.m. unti Noon you can participate in Boot Camp with Spartan Fit.
From 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. there will be live entertainment on the stage.
Shop around for Puerto Rican cigars.
Every household in Puerto Rico has “pique” or hot sauce, locally made.
And please stop by to meet Carla from Carla’s Rosaries. All made by Carla…they are beautiful. Check her out on Facebook. Her website is http://www.carlasrosaries.com.
This customer was so graciously posed for a photo.
If you are in the metropolitan area of San Juan, please stop by. It is a lot of fun!!
July 19th, 2015
Definitely, farmers markets are not just for chefs anymore. In come the foodies who have a very discriminating palate. Nothing but the best for them. Getting up close and personal, the farmers love to show off their produce, so please ask questions!!
My friend, Cindi, drove all the way from Ocean City, Maryland, and Brenda Jones is a local. You will find Brenda at the Historic Lewes Farmers Market most every Saturday in the a.m. The market opens at 8 a.m. until Noon.
Historic Lewes Farmers Market is celebrating 10 years in the community. During the summer season, you can find the market at the Lewes Historical Society Complex, located between Second & Third Streets at Shipcarpenter St. Please note that on August 1st the market will take place at Shields Elementary School Parking Lot at 910 Shields St. Fall hours will be 10/3 – 11/21 from 9 a.m. until Noon at Shields Elementary Parking Lot. No pets are allowed, so leave Fido at home for a few hours. Please visit the website at http://www.historiclewesmarket.org.
The white tents are scattered throughtout the Historical Complex, a beautiful place to be on Saturday morning. To find out the vendors that come to this market, please visit http://www.historiclewesfarmersmarket.org/market-vendors.
Celebrate Summer’s Bounty by Growing Local, Buying Local and Eating Local!!
Please open the Historic Lewes Farmers Market website to get some of their delicious recipes…http://www.historiclewesfarmersmarket.org/recipes.
Markets are rising in popularity because consumers can get fresh produce directly from the farm. The pick of the day, shall we say.
Learning about ground cherries. Had not seen them before. They have a papery husk, which encloses the small fruit. The fruit is small and orange. Ground cherries are part of the same family as the tomatillos. They are good in pies and they are also good with salsa and in a salad.
Never too early to start your day with fresh shucked oysters!!
Beautiful mushrooms!!
Peach Season and Bennett’s tent was full of beautiful peaches. The long line of customers waited patiently but the line went fast.
“Let us not forget that the cultivation of the earth is the most important labor of man. When tillage begins, other arts will follow. The farmers, therefore, are the founders of civilization.” daniel webster
July 18th, 2012
Tomato Sunshine changes with the season. I love stopping by. It is very close to my home. To tell you the truth, at times I just pull in and walk around. The flowers are gorgeous, the produce is amazing. It all puts a smile on my face.
Tomato Sunshine is located at 19791 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Tel. 302-226-9533. Website? http://www.tomatosunshine.com. If you are vacationing, please stop in. Ernie and Donna are the owners and either one or the other is always there. Any questions you might have, just ask because everyone is so helpful. I always have an interest in different looking fruits and Ernie is quick to give me a description.
 
But, today I was looking for peaches. It is that time of the year. Tomato Sunshine has local peaches. Because of the hot weather they are ready. If you are baking or just enjoying them as a fruit, stop by. They are so sweet.l
I notice they had local fresh bread, as well. The bread came from Touch of Italy located at The Villages of Five Points in Lewes.
The corn, and the melons were just gorgeous.
The Honeydews were screaming…take me, take me…it is too hot!!
Then, my eyes focused on the mountain of tomatoes. The color was unreal.
There it was. The mother of all tomatoes. I picked it up and took it to the scale. I wanted to see its weight. Wow….1.74 lbs!! My gosh!. They told me the other day they had a 2 pounder.
It is the height of the season for a lot of the local produce. If you are visiting the Delaware Beaches, please just take time to enjoy what Southern Delaware has to offer. We have lots of farmers’ markets; local markets that open every day. You know what? You won’t regret it. The taste is just incredible.
Talk to you later. Have a good one!!
June 25th, 2011
I got a text message telling me that Freeman’s corn was in. Out the door, in the car and off to the corner of Robinsonville and Plantation Rds. This road is Rt. 1D, which is parallel to Rt. 1.
From a distance I spotted the white tent. As I got out of the car a lady said “it is a fine day when we see this tent go up”. I couldn’t agree more. The tent protects the workers and the corn from the sun and heat. They even had their oriental rug on the ground.
Those orange bins were full to capacity with corn. They had the white and the white and yellow combined. I favor the white.
First thing they asked was if I was sending corn to Puerto Rico this year. That was an expensive package. I don’t know.
These guys are so friendly. Freeman’s is a family owned business.
All produce was just picked. The green beans were beautiful; tender and sweet.
The white eggplant, which I only saw for the first time last year, was back. Sweeter than the regular eggplant; a thicker skin.
Zuchinni was almost gone.
Tomorrow might bring tomatoes to the tent.
I love making conversation with the people in line. Yes, summer is definitely here, and 2011 summer’s bounty has made its entrance.
Note: The first thing I did when I got home was peel one corn and take a bite from it raw. It was so sweet; priceless.
Have a good one!!…Talk to you later…
May 11th, 2011
I strolled yesterday, just like everyone else through the tent lined street in Grove Park. This is the home for the Rehoboth Beach Farmers’ Market who is celebrating its 5th season. And, every Tuesday, rain or shine, from Noon until 4:00 p.m. you will find the locals, residents and visitors purchasing, organic produce, food, flowers, baked goods and at times live entertainment, as well. On a beautiful day like yesterday, it was priceless.
Grove Park is a wooded corner in Rehoboth that is located adjacent to the Lighthouse Circle, right by the roundabout. It has a Tot Lot and benches to sit and rest or get a little shade when the summer weather heats up.
The Rehoboth Beach Farmers’ Market has a website; http://www.rbfarmersmarket.com.
There is free parking available on Henlopen Avenue, Columbia Avenue and Sussex St. and Felton Street. Otherwise, you will have to feed the meter in a few weeks.
This is the second week for the Farmers’ Market. Other farmers’ markets at the beaches are starting pretty soon.
Just like the traditional “mercados” found in cities throughout the world, growers sell their produce directly to the public. You can even have lunch at the Rehoboth Beach Farmers’ Market. Some vendors have pick up delicacies. For example, Yolanda from Mariachi which is located at Wilmington Ave. had Arroz con Pollo, Papusas, Tamales among other things. Mariachi’s website is www.mariachirehobothde.com.
Shopping at farmers’ markets has become a weekly ritual for a lot of us that want to have fresh and local produce. It is great to engage in conversation with some of the farmers.
The Rehoboth Beach Farmers’ Market has about 25 vendors. To see the complete list, please visit www.rbfarmersmarket.com/vendors.html. There are a few new ones but all the old standbys are there, as well.
So, as I strolled these vendors got me interested. Their produce looked beautiful.
From Deep Grass Nurseries, a certified organic farm in Sussex County, Delaware.
From Kennet Square the mushroom from Davidson Exotic Mushrooms. Kennet Square, PA is known as mushroom capital of the U.S.
Jimmy Lynn’s Seafood, Home of the Crab with Attitude and one of my favorites in the area had beautiful seafood.
Breads from Koglers Old World Breads made in Ellendale, Delaware
Backyard Jams and Jellies
Cleckner Family Farm Eggs are from Bivalve, Maryland. Hormone free, chemical free and healthy range chickens. They are a “Community Supported Agriculture”. CSA is usually an organic vegetable farm where one pays a fee to join and then gets a share of the crops throughout the season. For more info. please visit www.clecknerfarm.com.
I had not seen Skipper’s All Natural Crunchy Dog Treats before. They are made in Lewes, Delaware and are all natural pet treats and all natural pet products. They also have custom orders, personalized birthday, holiday and forever home gifts. They are on Facebook and their website is www.skipperscompany.com.
Fifer Orchards are favorites at the Delaware Beaches. www.fiferorchards.com
I met Victoria who is the owner and baker from Olivia’s Breads & Alden’s Desserts. These are her kids’ names. Her love of baking natural and delicious treats started a long time ago with the dietary requirements of her grandmother. The rest is history. If you need gluten free, sugar free, etc. etc. just give her a couple of days notice. Her website is www.oliviasbreads.com. Toll free is 1-855-424-4395.
Nuts to You had beautiful nuts. They also had “butters”; Almond, Peanut, Pecan and Walnut.
Pasqualinis Bakery is in downtown Rehoboth beach on 375 Atlantic Ave. Website? www.pasqualinis.com.
Kettle Korn is lightly salty and somewhat sweet. Perfect combination. You will find it towards the end of the tents.
Susie Sunshine Organic Sprouts had plenty of samples for tastings.
Yes, it was certainly nice. I know I missed some of the vendors. There is always next time. I hope you get to visit some of these farmers’ markets in our Delaware Beaches. It is worth it!!
Have a great day!! Talk to you later…
April 18th, 2011
Oh, I have a feeling that I am going to get into trouble for calling Basic Concepts “An Institution”. You see, I know Patti Watson, the proprietor of this shop that is going into its 35th season in Rehoboth Beach. Now, you tell, me if this is not an institution. This store has weathered the ups and downs of our economy through the years, and in my book Basic Concepts should be congratulated just for that effort.
Basic Concepts is located at the Village-By-The-Sea Shops at 149 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. Tel. 302-227-8688.
I stopped by and was chatting with Patti and right at that moment I thought about writing a post for my blog.
Basic concepts carries two main lines of clothing. Fresh Produce and Focus from California.
Fresh Produce has been around for a long time. Lots of new bright colors for the season. Cute tee-shirts, little skirts, blouses and dresses. They are perfect for the way we live here at the beach.
Throw earrings, a necklace, a bracelet and you have an outfit.
Basic Concepts has hats; a must at the beach, as well.
The brand Focus has also cute jackets, shirts, sweaters and dresses. Even during the summer evenings there are cool nights. She had some great colors.
 
Last year I mentioned how nice it is to walk around Rehoboth Beach and see the familiar faces of those shopkeepers that make this town. They are friendly, caring, and I really enjoy them.
Have a good one…..talk to you later.
December 19th, 2010
Thank God it did not start raining until mid morning. I wanted to go by the Green Market. This is an open air market located at SE 4th Ave., 1/2 block south of Atlantic Avenue. You cannot miss it. I had been to the Green Market in the past but had not taken any pictures.
This Green Market is very similar to the Farmers’ Markets that take place during the summer months in the Delaware and Maryland beaches. It is going back to the basics; buy local and eat fresh.
The Green Market was started in 1996 by the Community Redevelopment Agency. This is now their 15th season; their second edition of the Greenmarket Cookbook is now on sale. It is $14.95 plus $3.00 shipping and handling. Call Lori at 561-276-7511 to reserve your copy. You may also want to stop by the CRA office on 20 N Swinton Ave. and pick one up.
The Green Market is every Saturday from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Do you need more info. or are interested in being a vendor? Then call Lori at 561-276-7511 or e-mail greenmarket@delraycra.org.
It was so nice to stroll up and down the street just checking everything out.
The first vendor I saw was selling seafood. Immediately the jumbo lump crabmeat got my eye. Of course, I ended up buying a pound. Actually, it was cheaper than at home. This vendor also had gorgeous stonecrab claws.
People were buying; I watched them interact with the vendors.
Between the music playing, the food cooking, the warm weather and a soft breeze, I think I caught myself smiling throughout my strolling.
      
Hey, you will get the chance to visit the Green Market if you are in Delray Beach every Saturday until the end of May.
Note: On Friday, 12/24, Christmas Eve, the Green Market will be open from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m., just so their loyal customers can pick up last minute items. There will be no street closing so all you have to do is pull up and buy your goodies.
Talk to you later…have a good one….
September 26th, 2010
“Autumn is a second Spring when every leaf is a flower.” albert camus
With that in mind I guess I would have to say that Autumn is my favorite time of the year. The air is so crisp; but nature’s glow is just amazing. That’s when I decided that a stop to Tomato Sunshine was the thing to do on such a beautiful day.
Tomato Sunshine is located at 4312 Highway One (Rt. 1 or Ocean Highway) in Rehoboth Beach. Tel. is 302-226-9533. The website is www.tomatosunshine.com. I write about it all the time because visiting this garden center and local produce market puts a smile on my face.
The weather has been beautiful in the Delmarva Peninsula for the past 15 days and as I was driving past Tomato Sunshine the colors were incredible. So, a bee line towards the parking lot is what I took.
You will find all kinds of produce at this time of the year, as well; apples, plums and vegetables, among others.
Tomato Sunshine has an excellent website full of information, tips, calendar, etc., so make sure to check it out. You can contact them through e-mail, as well. ernie@tomatosunshine.com, donna@tomatosunshine.com, info@tomatosunshine.com, and garland@tomatosunshine.com.
If you have a garden, yard, or containers you know that this is the busiest time of the year. Looking at my own there is seeding, pruning, soon rakings of leaves and the planting of maybe winter pansies. It is a little overwhelming, actually. I guess, I will get it done but at the moment I am still enjoying a lot of my summer flowers. They have gotten brighter these days.
Every year I find it so interesting to see the variety of pumkins. Check the ones I found out this year.
Cinderella Pumpkins – Ornamental pumpkin, which is deeply ridged.
White Pumpkin – Becoming increasingly common and are all the rage when it comes to chic autumn decorating.
Hubbard Squash – One of the best keeping squashes because of the extra hard skin.
Fairytale Pumpkin – The French name is “Musquee de Provence”. It is a very unique eating and ornamental pumpkin. The deep orange flesh is very flavored, sweet, thick and firm.
Carnival Squash – Cream colored with orange spots or pale green with dark green spots in vertical stripes.
The goose gourds are beautiful too and they look just like a goose. Used in a lot of the fall decorating.
Yes, it was nice checking all that Tomato Sunshine has to offer; pretty isn’t it and so lucky to be just around the corner.
Talk to you later and have a really beautiful day….
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