GLASGOW, Del. New Castle County Executive Thomas P. Gordon was one of the first customers at Glasgow Regional Park’s inaugural farmers market Friday afternoon, the beginning of weekly offerings of healthy and fresh vegetables, eggs, meat and honey from local farms.
“Ninety thousand people live here in Glasgow,” County Executive Gordon said. “This is going to be huge. People will be able to eat healthy, local foods and be able to support New Castle County farmers.”
The farmers market at Glasgow Park falls in line with the County Executive’s vision to encourage county residents to visit and enjoy everything their parks have to offer. CE Gordon worked with Councilman David Tackett, whose district includes Glasgow, to organize the farmers market.
The NCC Department of Special Services had farmers set up alongside the west gate at Glasgow Park, under the shade of several trees, during Friday’s hot weather. But Gordon said he planned to eventually move the farmers market to the park’s barn once it was renovated.
“We’re going to have a beautiful barn here once it’s restored,” he said.
Bear resident Rita Wallace visited the egg, beef, lamb and pork stand set up by NCC Councilman Bill Powers, a farmer based in Townsend. She also visited the local honey stand set up by Adrienne Gage, of Gage Family Beekeeping in Middletown, and the vegetable stand set up by Crystal Chillas, whose family owns a couple of farms in the Middletown area.
“This is fantastic,” Wallace said. “I was just visiting the park when I saw the signs for the farmers market. I’m always searching for healthier ways of eating. I shall try to make it every week.”
Both Gordon and NCC Department of Community Services General Manager Alan Matas bought jars of honey from Adrienne Gage.
“You should buy local honey because it’s a natural antihistamine,” Matas said. “I’ll be back for more.”
Glasgow resident Marie Schwalbauch and her grandson, Charlie Fritz, bought tomatoes, squash, snap peas and cucumbers from Chillas and honey from Gage.
“I love it,” Schwalbauch said. “I wish they had started this a couple of years ago.”
The farmers market at Glasgow Park will be held each Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Interested vendors can call the permits office at (302) 571-4006 for more information on how to participate.