Taste of Summer
You can still get your leafy greens, grass-fed meats and fresh poultry at local farmers markets this summer, but there’s no denying that the fresh-air market vibe won’t be the same, with regulations in place to promote social distancing and the cancellation of vendor demonstrations, tastings and live music.
“It has really been a shift from hanging out and socializing at the market … to just coming in and purchasing or picking up the product,” said Julie Dewdney, market manager of the Canterbury Community Farmers Market, which began on June 3.
Farmers markets have been considered essential businesses from the beginning, according to Gail McWilliam Jellie, director of agricultural development for the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food. The Department has encouraged markets to stay open, both to maintain cash flow for the vendors and to provide food sources for customers.
• Dover Farmers Market is Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Henry Law Park (1 Washington St., Dover), now through Oct. 11, and Wednesday from 2:15 to 6 p.m. in the parking lot of the Dover Chamber of Commerce (550 Central Ave.), now through Oct. 7. Visit seacoastgrowers.org.
• Durham Farmers Market is Monday from 2:15 to 6 p.m. in the parking lot of Sammy’s Market (5 Madbury Road), now through October. Visit seacoastgrowers.org.
• Exeter Farmers Market is Thursday from 2:15 to 6 p.m. behind the Seacoast School of Technology (30 Linden St.), now through Oct. 29. Visit seacoastgrowers.org.
• Portsmouth Farmers Market is Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at the Little Harbour School (50 Clough Drive, Portsmouth), now through Nov. 7. Visit seacoastgrowers.org.
• Rochester Farmers Market is Tuesday from 3 to 6 p.m. at Rochester Community Center (150 Wakefield St.). Visit rochesternhfarmersmarket.com.
The Lee Farmers Market, which would have started on the last Thursday in May, has canceled its season, instead “existing virtually,” according to manager Tina Sawtelle.
“We’ve sort of pivoted to becoming an online source to help local farms connect to customers, and to point people in the right direction for where to get product,” said Sawtelle, who originally started the market with her husband through the Lee Agricultural Commission. “It’s actually helped our vendors increase their CSA shares too.”
Strawberry season at Applecrest Farm
Following nearly a century of tradition, Applecrest Farm in Hampton Falls has remained open through the pandemic and is offering new methods of shopping to keep staff and customers safe.
“We always pushed to serve the community, but with Covid-19 we felt another level of responsibility,” said Todd Wagner, a fourth-generation farmer at Applecrest.
The team at Applecrest Farm is offering a call-in, contactless delivery system for patrons of the farmstand in the interest of public health.
“We wanted to develop a program that would meet everybody’s needs,” Wagner said. “People can pull up to the front of the farm stand, open the hatch of their vehicle, and we’ll come out and drop it in.”
Though the farm has faced some challenges, Wagner said the farm is still offering a full line of products.
“Blueberry bushes and peach and apple trees don’t know anything about Covid-19 so they’re still producing,” Wagner said, laughing.
Applecrest is also offering a “pick your own” service, where patrons can hand pick their own fruits. Anyone can visit the farm and select their own batch of strawberries as social distancing and sanitation guidelines are in effect.
Strawberry season typically runs now through mid-july, and Wagner advises everyone to visit the farm and pick a batch soon.
“You have to be on the ball,” Wagner said. “Strawberry season in the Northeast is a very fleeting and wonderful thing. … You have to make hay while the sun shines.”
Wagner says they are still planning on having their annual strawberry festival during Father’s Day weekend.
“I’m sure people are feeling very cooped up and are looking to get out,” Wagner said. “What better way to practice social distancing than to get out in the open air?”
Wagner said the festival will run from 10 a.m to 3 p.m on June 20 and June 21, and patrons can expect to experience “strawberry themed galore.” Food and live music will also be available at the festival.
For more information on Applecrest Farm’s available produce and events visit applecrest.com or call 603-926-3721.
Produce on the go
Heron Pond Farm in South Hampton is now offering a delivery service to customers in response to social distancing guidelines.
Through a program the farm titled “Veggie-Go,” patrons of Heron Pond Farm can now place their orders on the farm’s website and receive their produce at their doorstep or the farm’s storefront. Veggie-Go provides safe access to a wide range of locally grown vegetables, local meat and dairy products, prepared foods, and more.
Updates on available produce are posted weekly to the farm’s online storefront, and Veggie-Go is currently delivering to over 500 homes.
CSA and Farmers Market Manager Kelsey Macdonald says the farm stand’s sales have substantially increased in the past few months.
“Customers are doing more grocery shopping at our farm stand and getting as much as they can to avoid grocery stores,” Macdonald said.
Macdonald says the recent uptake in sales has allowed the farm to expand its variety of available products. The farm is now sourcing produce from other local vendors to create a one-stop shopping experience for customers.
A wide array of vegetables are currently in season, including strawberries, red potatoes and tomatoes, which Macdonald says are a customer favorite.
“A lot of people love our tomatoes,” Macdonald said. “We grow about 40,000 pounds of tomatoes a year, and we have all different colors and heirlooms.”
Heron Pond Farm is currently only allowing two customers in the farm stand at a time, to provide a safe shopping experience and ensure that social distancing guidelines are met. Reusable bags are not permitted at this time, but boxes are available to those who would like to avoid the use of extra plastic. Hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes are readily available to all patrons of the farm stand, and surfaces are wiped down on a regular basis.
Heron Pond Farm only offers at-home delivery to select towns in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine. To see if your town is eligible, or for more information, visit heronpondfarm.com, or call 603-394-0129.