‘Tis the season for fresh, local, delectable produce—that is. All over the shore, the once dormant roadside stands are now brimming with the season’s fresh-picked goodies. Each week farm vendors set up shop at various markets in small towns from Chestertown, MD to Lewes, DE, to Cape Charles, VA. Seasonal grocers are again brimming with products, and restaurant menus reflect the bounty the Eastern Shore has to offer.

According to the lovely folks over at epicurious, the venerable recipe and foodie site, what’s in-season for Maryland in the month of June include arugula, asparagus, carrots, lettuce, radishes, rhubarb, scallions, spinach, and strawberries. Delaware has asparagus, peaches, peas, spinach, strawberries, and summer squash. And for Virginia, it’s asparagus, blueberries, cucumbers, green beans, raspberries, summer squash and strawberries.

Keep in mind some of these items will come into your markets later in the month, while others are just about done for the season. Especially on the Eastern Shore, where we enjoyed a very mild winter, the growing season started early earlier, which means for some early crops like asparagus, the weeks remaining are limited. Crops are also affected each week by the current weather conditions such as nightly temperatures that dip, or too much rain. Speak to the vendors at your local markets and ask them how much longer they will have a particular product. Stock up on the produce that is about to be out-of-season and make soups you can freeze, jellies and jams out of the fruits, and can or parboil and freeze the vegetables in order to extend the length of time you can enjoy your favorites.

If you’d like to sit and be served seasonal eats by the professionals, many area chefs prefer to buy local ingredients and use them primarily, if not entirely, in their menus. They also proudly feature meats and poultry from farms that raise their animals humanely, without antibiotics, allow them to roam the grounds freely and feed them grass, and whole grains. Based on the mentality that we are what we eat—it’s nice to know that what we eat, eats well, too. Some restaurants whose menus reflect such choices include The Shark in Ocean City, and a(MUSE.) and Hobos in Rehoboth Beach, DE.

Below is a list of Farmer’s Markets on the Eastern Shore. Visit the ones closest to you, or take a little half-day trip to one of the larger markets. Just don’t forget your cooler if you do so. If you have a favorite recipe you’ve tried, or one you’ve created using goods from a farmer’s market, share it with us, and we will include it in Shorebread’s Breadbox. Send your local knowledge to Shorebread.

Note: Links are provided to some of the larger markets

Maryland

Berlin, MD

  • Wednesdays 2 – 6pm, Fridays 10-3pm; Main Street, Historic Downtown
  • Thursdays 12 – 4pm; Atlantic General Hospital

Ocean City, MD

  • Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays 8am – 1 pm; Phillips lot 142nd and Coastal Highway

Salisbury, MD

  • Tuesdays 2:30 – 6pm; Camden Avenue Asbury Methodist Church
  • Saturdays 8am – 1pm; Market Street, Lot 16

Princess Anne, MD

  • Thursdays 3 – 6pm; Downtown, South Parking Lot

Snow Hill, MD

  • Tuesdays 2 – 6pm; River Parking Lot, Green Street

Pocomoke, MD

  • Fridays 8am – Noon; Cypress Park

Easton, MD

  • Saturdays 8am – 1pm, Wednesdays 1-6pm; Harrison Street Parking Lot

Chestertown, MD

  • Wednesday 12 – 5pm, Saturday 9 – 12pm; Park Row, Fountain Park

St. Micheals, MD

  • Saturdays 8:30 – 11:30am; Muskrat Park on St. Micheal’s Harbor

Cambridge, MD

  • Thursdays 3 – 6pm; Academy St. downtown

Virginia

Chincoteague, VA

  • Wednesdays and Saturdays 9am – Noon; Main Street

Cape Charles, VA

  • Saturdays 1 – 5pm; 110 Blue Haven Road

Delaware

Rehoboth Beach, DE

  • Tuesdays Noon – 4pm; Grove Park

Lewes, DE

  • Saturdays 8am – Noon; Historical Society Complex 110 Shipcarpenter Street

Milton, DE

  • Fridays 3 – 7pm; 624 Mulberry Street

Bethany Beach

  • Sundays 8am – Noon; PNC Bank lot Garfield Parkway

Fenwick Island

  • Mondays/Fridays 8am – Noon; Coastal Highway and East Essex Street

Visit Shorebread often througout the month of June as we explore in-depth some of these markets. We will also bring you recipes and stories from some of the shore’s most notable farmers.