Brandon Brady talks with a customer about his microgreens at the Ocean Pines Farmers Market

By Cindy Hoffman, Staff Writer

(April 13, 2023) It was a chilly start to the spring season of the Ocean Pines Farmers Market at White Horse Park on Saturday, but that did not stop shoppers from coming out to the market in preparation for their Easter celebrations and the coming week.

David Bean, the market manager, expects a big market this year, with 100 vendors enrolled, including artisans, green markets and community partners as well as live music, cooking demonstrations and kids’ entertainment.

Besides running the market, Bean also manages a DJ David and Company, a cooperative of local farmers. He works with about six farms locally, which grow everything from cantaloupes, tomatoes and corn to zucchini and squash. He also has some smaller farmers that grow things like okra.

“We bring in what is local, and then out of season we use farmers that are in warmer climates to bring stuff in,” Bean said.

“Right now, green beans are coming out of Georgia and Florida until the local ones are ready. We have the first scallions and spring onions.

“We are expecting our first strawberries probably within two weeks locally. They are starting to get to the point where they are ready to go.

“Our tomato grower just put 50 plants into the ground this week, all different varieties, so we are excited about that,” Bean said.

Bean only sells in Ocean Pines.

This is a retirement job for him, but he works every day.

“During the week we pull it all together, get it delivered, and bring it here and sell it to the customers,” Bean said.

“Saturday is the culmination of it, but tomorrow morning, we start all over again.”

“The clientele for this market is really dedicated. We are here all year long,” Bean said.

“There are 25 vendors here during the winter. There are still baked goods, fresh produce, but it’s not always local.  But there is local produce here in the wintertime, like radishes. beets, potatoes, carrots, and cabbages.”

Brandon Brady of Stag Run Farm out of Georgetown, Delaware, is one of the year-round produce vendors.

Stag Run Farms is a family operation that has been around for about 20 years.

“We grow a lot of tree fruit, and we are getting into a lot of produce now,” said Brady.

Count on Stag Run for local honey, fresh fruit jams, heirloom tomatoes, apples and peaches.  Brady is hoping for a good peach season this year.

Customers were flocking to his stand this weekend for his array of microgreens, including radish, Red Russian kale, mustard, arugula, sunflower and Chinese parsley.

“I’m giving everyone a little pinch of everything,” said Brady.

After the market, the roots of the greens are composted. The microgreens are grown in a greenhouse that is heated to start cabbage and tomatoes. His radishes come out of the green house as well.

He expects to have lettuce coming soon. He is also planning for cheddar cauliflower, regular cauliflower, broccoli and for this year, he has planted black berries.

There are also a variety of crafters, including Samantha Kent.

She just started at the farmers market in January, selling ear warmers and hats and crochet stuffed animals.

“My daughter hugs every one of them and sends them off with love,” Kent said.

Her brother is also a vendor here, Driftwood Johnson.

The Farmer’s Market is every Saturday from 8a.m. to 1 p.m.

Some upcoming special events include Blooms and Bouquets on May 13, in advance of Mother’s Day; the Memorial Day Market on May 27; the Strawberry Market on June 10, and of course the July 1 Independence Day market celebration.

The June 3 market will celebrate the 12th Anniversary Jubilee with guest merchants, demos, music, kids activities and more.