HISTORIC LEWES FARMERS MARKET SOCIETY INC

FIRST ACCOMPLISHMENT: FARMERS MARKET: IN 2025, THE HLFM (HISTORIC LEWES FARMERS MARKET) CONTINUED TO OPERATE TWO FARMERS MARKETS IN LEWES, ONE EVERY SATURDAY FROM MAY TO DECEMBER AND ONE EVERY WEDNESDAY FROM JUNE-SEPTEMBER. THESE MARKETS PROVIDE AN ACCESSIBLE, FAMILY-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACE WHERE CONSUMERS MAY PURCHASE THE FRESHEST LOCAL FOODS AVAILABLE DIRECTLY FROM LOCAL PRODUCERS. CONSUMERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN DIRECTLY FROM THE FARMER HOW THEIR FOOD IS GROWN/RAISED, AND ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN TERMS OF NUTRITIONAL VALUE. THE MARKET ALSO GIVES SMALL, LOCAL FARMERS/PRODUCERS AN OUTLET FOR THEIR PRODUCTS AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH THE HLFM MARKET TEAM TO SHARE IDEAS AND LEARN BEST PRACTICES ON ORGANIC AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND DIRECT MARKETING. THE HLFM ORGANIZES WEEKLY DEMONSTRATIONS PROVIDED BY LOCAL CHEFS, FARMERS, MASTER GARDENERS AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS DESIGNED TO EDUCATE CONSUMERS ABOUT HEALTHY LIFESTYLES, COOKING TECHNIQUES AND HEALTHY RECIPES. ALSO, AS PART OF THE MARKET, THE HLFM ORGANIZES A GLEANING PROGRAM WHERE THEY TAKE DONATIONS OF EXTRA PRODUCE FROM VENDORS AT THE END OF EACH MARKET, ORGANIZE THE PRODUCE, AND DONATE IT TO CASA SAN FRANCISCO IN MILTON, DE, A CHARITY WHICH RUNS A SOUP KITCHEN AS PART OF ITS MISSION. THE HLFM IS RECOGNIZED FOR ITS EXPERTISE IN SUPPORTING LOCAL FARMING, SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, AND FARMERS MARKET MANAGEMENT. IN 2018, HLFM PUBLISHED CREATING A FARMERS MARKET LIVING LAB: LESSONS LEARNED IN GROWING A FARMERS MARKET, WHICH WAS THE RESULT OF A 2-YEAR STUDY CONDUCTED BY HLFM WITH FUNDING FROM THE USDA. HLFM SHARED THE FINDINGS FROM THIS STUDY WITH FARMERS MARKET ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AND EUROPE BY PRESENTING AT CONFERENCES AND CONTINUES TO PROVIDE COPIES OF THE FINAL PUBLICATION.

SECOND ACCOMPLISHMENT: FARMER SCHOLARSHIPS: THE HLFM AWARDED SEVEN SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING 3,060 TO SMALL DELMARVA FARMERS IN 2025, ENABLING THEM TO ATTEND SUSTAINABLE FARMING CONFERENCES, INCLUDING THE FUTURE HARVEST CASA ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND THE PASA SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE CONFERENCE. THESE CONFERENCES DRAW FARMERS INTERESTED IN EDUCATION ABOUT SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PRACTICES FROM A BROAD SECTION OF THE EAST COAST, MID-ATLANTIC, AND THE SOUTH WITH SIMILAR GROWING CONDITIONS TO THE DELMARVA.