New Castle County, Delaware
"The First County in the First State"
County Home
The Farmer & The Chef 2010 - 
Save the Date:  September 16!!
 
We are excited to kick off The Farmer & The Chef 2010.  Save the date for Thursday, September 16, 2010 at the Chase Center on the Riverfront.  The Farmer and The Chef team is looking forward to another wonderful year with great chefs, great food, and great fun!  So check out the event website more information is being added all the time. Reserve your tickets now!!!  
 
For more information on restaurants that serve locally grown foods, click here
 
 
Farmers Markets
 
The number of farmers markets in New Castle County has continued to grow, particulalry adding farmers markets in and around Wilmington.  For a list of all the farmers markets and when they are open, click here

Supermarkets Selling New Castle County Produce
 
 
Want to know where you can buy Delaware-grown produce in your area?
 
 
 

Farms Selling Their Own Produce

Want to know where you can go to buy produce directly from the farm?


 
For information on organic farming in Delaware, check out the Delaware Organic Food and Farming Association website.



Buy From Your Neighbor

Here you will learn about New Castle County's Buy From Your Neighbor program and find information on: 

Buying From Your Neighbor

Buy From Your Neighbor is a program begun by New Castle County Executive Chris Coons to encourage consumers, wholesalers, retailers and restaurants to seek out and purchase Delaware-grown products. Look and ask for Buy From Your Neighbor products where you shop.


It is vital that we maintain the viability of our local farms by supporting the purchase of locally-grown products. We want to send a message that farms are critical to the quality of life we cherish in the county.

A strong farm economy creates local jobs, provides nutritious food and preserves the close-knit communities of our state.
 
For more information on getting involved with Buy From Your Neighbor, contact Andrea Kreiner at akreiner@verizon.net or 302-423-2766.

New Castle County Farm Facts
 
General Info
Number of Farms 358 farms
Acres in Farmland
71,248 acres
(26.1% of the County)
Number of Farms Operated by Women 58 farms
Average Farm Size 199 acres
Number of Farms 500 Acres or More 38 farms
Average Age of Farm Operators 57.4 years old
Animals
Farms with Milk Cows 11 farms 1,013 cows
Farms with Cattle 62 farms 2,662 cattle
Farms with Hogs 11 farms 86 hogs
Farms with Sheep 14 farms 366 sheep
Number of Horses 3,600 horses
Commercial Horse Operations 100
Non-Commercial Horse Operations 200
Crops
Orchards 16 orchards 42 acres
Produce Harvested 912 acres

Asparagus, snap beans, broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupe, cucumbers, garlic, herbs, okra, green onions, green peas, bell peppers, chili peppers, pumpkins, spinach, squash, sweet corn, tomatoes, turnips, turnip greens.

Grain Corn Harvested 17,456 acres
Soybean Harvested 29,720 acres
Wheat Harvested 12,029 acres
Barley Harvested 822 acres
Hay/Forage Harvested 5,115 acres

Sources: 2002 Census of Agriculture, Delaware Dept. of Agriculture & National Agricultural Statistics Service/USDA.
2004 Delaware Equine Study, Delaware Dept. of Agriculture & National Agricultural Statistics Service/USDA.


Delaware Harvest Seasons
Combine Harvester

Want to buy some fresh Delaware-grown products but aren't sure what's available?
Want to know what's in season?

Check out the harvest schedules below for...


Fun Farm Activities For Families and Groups

Want to know where to go to have some fun on the farm?

 Want to know where you can...

Take a farm tour
Go to a farm market/country store
Go on a hay ride
Get lost in a corn maze & other Halloween attractions
Visit a petting zoo
Hold a birthday party
U-Pick fruits & vegetables
Take a school tour
Hold a family reunion or company picnic
Earn scout badges
Go to summer camp on a farm
Take farm related classes & workshops
Eat homemade ice cream
Go birdwatching
Go canoeing
Learn outdoor skills
Take a pony ride
Visit a Christmas shop

 
 
Agritourism Site of the Month

Coverdale Farm