With the hot, steamy summer months nearly behind us, many families may be searching for a weekend excursion away from the TV, cell phones and everyday stresses of life.
Often overlooked, though, are Delaware’s local farms, many of which are open to the public through the fall.
The Delaware Agritourism Association is doing its part to change that with the launch of its first Harvest Trail.
From September through December, local residents and out-of-town visitors will hop from one farm to the next, where they’ll either pick fresh fruit from an orchard, lay in a field of lavender, sample a flavor of ice cream or pick their next Christmas tree.
“This is another way to experience Delaware,” said Marie Mayor, President of the Delaware Agritourism Association and co-owner of Lavender Fields in Milton. “It bridges the gap between the urban/suburban communities and the agriculture community and helps residents learn how farmers fit into the overall wellbeing of the state and how much we contribute to the economic resources.”
The trail kicked off Friday at Coleman’s Christmas Tree Farm in Middletown. The self-guided trail includes 14 working farms throughout all three of the state’s counties. Families are invited to walk on to the farms, ask questions, learn about the operations and take part in a few family-friendly activities.
“It’s a great way to pull more people in,” said Nadine Skidmore, whose mother Debbie and stepfather Jack own Coleman’s Christmas Tree Farm.
During the fall, visitors will take part in pumpkin picking, hay rides, corn stalk mazes and of course, gazing out at the thousands of Christmas trees growing on the property.
Jane Ramsey, who owns Ramsey’s Farm in Wilmington with her husband, Stewart, said creating awareness is extremely important in keeping Delaware’s farms going.
“There are people who live right in our backyard and don’t even know we exist,” she said.
Each of the farms participating in the trail are members of Delaware’s Agritourism Association, Mayor said.
“The idea behind the association was to create a destination for families and visitors to our state for fun on the farm,” she said. “It’s really about helping people find activities they might enjoy doing as a family.”
The agriculture industry has not been immune to the country’s current economic climate, and as times have proven tough, creating awareness is ultimately in farm owners’ best interest, she said.
