Delaware event connects producers, organizations

By MICHEL ELBEN
Staff Reporter

DOVER, Del. — Over 100 participants easily circulated throughout the rooms of the skillfully organized Delaware Ag Museum during Delaware’s buyer-grower event on Feb. 7, making a deal or a few and enjoying the smells, sights and samplings of locally produced food.
“Lots of levels are connecting here,” said Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee. “And it’s leading to big and small sales.”
David Smith, marketing specialist for the Delaware Department of Agriculture, said he organized the event to feature retailers such as Safeway, Food Lion, Giant, Wal-Mart, Acme, and Shop-Rite in the front room, growers and value-added producers in the middle, and farm-to-school organizations in the quieter, quilt-paneled back room to create a flow of movement.
“I’ve come every year, it keeps getting bigger,” said John Sapienza, executive chef of Sap’s Puddin’ of Georgetown, Del.
Lori Sabin, owner of Eskico, a natural dog treat company in Wilmington, Del., said she was amazed to meet so many growers in the same place.
“There’s a wealth of knowledge here,” Sabin said.
R. E. Cierniak used the opportunity to build his Delaware Specialty Foods business, which sells salsas and other pre-made foods, like all-natural cinnamon twist snacks, which are made from local produce.
“We have three farmers’ markets (we sell at) so we meet all kinds of people, it’s a win-win situation here,” he said.
Producers not only connected with each other but also with retailers and Delaware schools.
“It’s really a perfect event to network,” said A. Paula Angelucci, supervisor of nutritional services for the Colonial school district in New Castle, Del.
Angelucci said schools have been working hard to “think outside of the box” and abide by USDA regulations, adding “At first schools seemed intimidated because they didn’t know how to get the product and farmers seemed intimidated by the size of the schools but now, two to three years in, they’re talking about particular products, quantity and acreage,” she said.
Angelucci said schools have become more flexible and growers can customize their interactions.
“We’ll take it as it comes,” she said. “We can get as small or as big as they want to get, farmers can talk to one school or a whole district.”
Among the featured growers was Danny Palmer of T.A. Farms, of Wyoming, Del. He grows all-natural free-range turkeys. Many of the school districts were interested in speaking with Danny Palmer because turkey is lower in sodium than other meats.
“We have a USDA mandate,” said Wendy Failing, child nutrition supervisor for Caesar Rodney school District in Camden-Wyoming, Del. “And it keeps the money in the local community.”
“We’ve made contact with Fifer’s Orchards and T.S. Smith & Sons,” said James Trower, supervisor of child nutrition for Capital school district in Dover, Del.
Trower said he was excited about the T.S. Smith connection because he wanted the children to experience fresh sweet corn, peaches, asparagus and apples.
“If we can only offer them fresh fruits and vegetables one time a day, it makes a difference,” said Failing.