MIDDLETOWN — Early returns were good for Valerie Nelson on Saturday.
Her homemade cakes were being offered at the Middletown Farmers Market for the first time, and she was pleased.
“I had heard good things about (the venue), and I’m really enjoying it,” the Middletown baker said.
Nearby were vendors Forrust and Sherry Miller, who operate Still Water Farm Handcrafted Products in Townsend.
Taking a spot at the farmers market to peddle all-natural soaps, lotions, deodorants and detergents has been a profitable decision, Mr. Miller said.
“As a businessperson, it’s a great outlet for our products, but it’s also a great way to meet people,” he added. “One of the things we also do is soap-making classes, and so, it’s great exposure for that. It’s just a great way to connect with the people.”
For her part, Cherry’s Baking Co. owner Teresa Allen said traffic at the site had been “up and down” but still busy overall.
“You have a lot of locals coming in, and they see us and all the bakers and vendors out here that all get seen,” the Clayton resident said. “It’s a very small-knit community here, and to have our business here does wonders for it.”
The Middletown Farmers Market opened May 3 and is scheduled each Saturday through Oct. 26. As of Aug. 3, 5,397 people had visited the New Castle County-run location, organizers said.
Linking the public to fresh food and bringing customers to producers is vital to its success, county community services coordinator Carey Lockman Corbin said.
“We think it’s not only important to give the people of New Castle County a connection to producers with food (but to) encourage people who are entrepreneurs, farmers, to come and be able to make a living at what they do,” she said.
“It’s very important for us to create opportunities for these small-business people to sell their wares and connect with the local community.”
Ms. Corbin also referred to the Department of Community Services’ slogan, “Live healthy, New Castle County,” and said it “connects us to pretty much everything we do.”
At the Middletown Farmers Market, vendor fees are 5% of gross sales per market, capped at $85 per date.
The market is staged from 9 a.m. to noon at 204 E. Main St. Parking is available at the Appoquinimink Community Library.
Other New Castle County markets can be found in Wilmington and Glasgow. There’s also a monthly market in The Town of Whitehall community in Middletown.
For information, visit newcastlede.gov .
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