April marks the opening of many local produce stands on Delmarva and we checked in with a few owners to learn more about these seasonal businesses and hear what’s new for 2012.
Denise Williams, owner of Williams Market on Nanticoke Road in Salisbury is optimistic about the upcoming season. She said they are regrouping and focusing more on selling flowers and different types of foods in their market.
The spring is the busiest season for Williams Market with customers anxious to plant flowers after a long winter. They do three times as much business in May as December when selling Christmas trees keep them open.
She said she loves going to work every day. “I am living my passion. This is what I live for. I started doing this when I was 13 with my dad, and loving what I do makes my job so easy.”
Williams Market is open Monday – Saturday 9 am to 7 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. Stop by and see why they are a locals favorite with a wide variety of flowers, and friendly, personal service.
In Worcester County, Birch’s Produce Market is getting ready to open for their 41stseason. The Birch Family grows a lot of the produce they sell, including all the corn, tomatoes, cantaloupes, peppers, squash, cucumbers and more.
Located on Route 611, Susie Birch says they plan to open April 19th. The warm weather has had her thinking they might even open earlier, as she hears that local farmers are already cutting local asparagus. What they don’t grow themselves, they buy from wholesalers in Salisbury, other local farmers, and on trips to Amish country in the off season. In addition to fruit and vegetables, she carries a collection of yard ornaments, and other gift type items.
Birch said they cater to locals and tourists alike. Lots of people stop on their way to Assateague, or on their way home. Some of their local customers have been coming for years – for as long as the produce stand has been open. “I love working here. I wouldn’t have done it all these years if I didn’t. My regular customers are like family to me.”
For the past 15 years or so, they have operated a second market on Route 50 and 60 Foot Road in Willards. Also called Birch’s Produce Market, that site caters more to the day trippers who stop on their way home from the beach.
Later this month, Birch’s Produce will be open 9 to 5 pm until the season gets going and then they open 8 am to 8 pm.
Wings Landing Farm is located on the Choptank River, on Bell Creek Road in Preston, MD and is open year round. The farms also provides produce for the Amish Country Farmers Market in Easton, as well as other produce stands around the Talbot county.
Farm owner Sharon Quidas says the majority of items they sell they also grow themselves. “We carry a large supply of strawberries, asparagus, peas, squash, cucumbers, sweet corn, green beans, cantaloupes, tomatoes, peppers, watermelons, lima beans, pumpkins, gourds, and a variety of spring flowers”.
The farm is open 7 days a week, Monday through Friday from 7 am to 6 pm, Saturday, Sunday, and Memorial Day from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Wings Landing Farms produce stand is located at 101 Marlboro Ave, Easton, MD. They are open year round, 9am – 6pm on Thursdays, 9am – 7 pm on Fridays and 9am – 3pm on Saturdays.