Local farmers markets ramp up business before end of season

WICOMICO COUNTY, Md.  – As we begin to fall into a new season, local farmers markets are ramping up for that last minute foot traffic and some of them offer more than just produce.

When most people think farmers market, fruits, veggies and canned goods come to mind.

But Charles Wright, owner of Wrights Market, envisioned something bigger than just food.

“The goats are entertainment for the kids,” Wright said. “Customers are riding down the road and they see the goats and it’s advertisement, basically.”

And with fall being a prime-time people visit farmers markets before the seasonal shut down, Wright wanted to create a one-stop-shop for families who want food and fun.

“End of September, October, we’ll have the farm fun zone. We’ll have a corn maze, a huge pumpkin bounce pad, you-pick pumpkins, all types of activities for the kids, every weekend,” Wright said. “It brings out a lot of local people from all over Delmarva to come out spend time with their families.”

And just a few miles away at Parkers Produce Seafood, Joanne Palluzzi is gearing up for the end of the busy season.

“We do have customers that come in and stock up for the winter, and I would say do that sooner than later, because stuff starts flying off the shelves,” Palluzzi said.

While Palluzzi will be closing up shop at the end of October, she says there’s still more than enough time to grab your farm favorites.

“The jarred stuff and the seafood would probably be the two biggest things,” Palluzzi said. “We’ve got the community behind us and it’s close to them; it’s convenient and it’s on their way home, so they stop in on their way home for dinner.”