Nage chef to demonstrate at Lewes farmers market

On Saturday, June 4, the Historic Lewes Farmers Market will open at the Lewes Historical Society Complex, 110 Shipcarpenter Street, at the corner of West 3rd and Shipcarpenter Streets, in Lewes. The market will be open from 8 a.m. to noon.

Representatives noted that opening-day crowds last Saturday broke all records for attendance.

This week’s market demonstration will feature Hari Cameron, chef du cuisine at Nage restaurant in Rehoboth Beach. Cameron was classically trained at the Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College in Philadelphia. He described his culinary style as a mix of new and old.

Cameron is committed to using fresh, local ingredients. Nage hosts a weekly farm-to-table dinner and has been involved in the local Slow Food movement. His demonstration is scheduled for 10 a.m.

Maureen Miller will be reading “The Carrot Seed” by Ruth Krauss at 9 a.m. in the school house at the Lewes Historical Society. All children are welcome.

The Historic Lewes Farmers Market is also competing in the 2011 America’s Favorite Farmers Markets contest, and they need help to win. Voting is now under way to select America’s Favorite Farmers Markets. The contest is a nationwide challenge to see which markets can rally the most support from their communities.

Online voting will take place from June 1, starting at noon, through Aug. 31 at midnight, when four winning markets – one large, one medium, one small and one boutique — will receive the title of America’s Favorite Farmers Market for 2011. Winners will be featured on the food Web site Epicurious.com and will be honored at local celebrations that include prizes.
“Casting a vote for the Historic Lewes Farmers Market is a fun and easy way to support our local farmers, the market and our community,” said Helaine Harris, president of the Market Board.

To vote, go to www.farmland.org/vote and select the Historic Lewes Farmers market. Last year, the Historic Lewes Farmers Market placed No. 2 nationwide in the medium-size market category.

The America’s Favorite Farmers Markets contest is hosted by American Farmland Trust, a conservation organization dedicated to saving America’s farm and ranch land, promoting environmentally sound farming practices, and supporting a sustainable future for farms. The contest is part of the organization’s “No Farms No Food” campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the dangers of farmland loss.

“Farms near metropolitan areas produce 91 percent of our nation’s market value of fruit, 78 percent of vegetables and 67 percent of dairy products,” said Jon Scholl, president of American Farmland Trust. “Farmers markets are a vital link between local farms and their supporting communities, providing fresh and healthy food and an experience that cannot be matched anywhere else.”

For more information about the America’s Favorite Farmers Markets contest or to cast a vote, visit www.farmland.org/vote. For more information about the Historic Lewes Farmers Market, visit www.historiclewesfarmersmarket.org, email historiclewesfarmersmarket@comcast.net or call them at (302) 644-1436.