Hop in the Car!

Explore Delaware’s many produce farms and farmers markets, and meet specialty crop farmers! Experience our rich and flavorful agricultural heritage as you travel rural roads and meet our state’s specialty crop farmers.

Pick a Route or Mix and Match to Make Your Own Road Trip

Every stop on the three Delaware Grown Road Trips offers visitors opportunities to experience the best fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables for you and your family to savor. Available produce will vary throughout the year based on harvest times. Most of the stops are open from May through the end of October. It is highly suggested that visitors confirm locations are open before embarking on their trip.

Delaware Grown Passport

You can pick up a Delaware Grown Passport from the Delaware Department of Agriculture, participating sites, visitor centers, and many other locations across the state, or download and print at home:

Download Here! Delaware Grown Passport

If you have your Delaware Grown passport stamped at three locations, you can receive a free Delaware Grown t-shirt. You don’t have to visit all three locations on the same day, and you can mix and match the locations throughout the state to create your ideal road trip!

From April through December, Delaware produces a bountiful amount of fresh fruits and vegetables, honey, cut flowers, and evergreens. Our seasonality offers distinct flavors, colors, and variety that appeal to all. As a consumer, you want the best for yourself and your family. Knowing that the fresh produce you purchased has had the minimum amount of time “off the vine” is essential. In a small state like Delaware, our farmers pick early in the morning, so you have the freshest selection at the market. And with less time to reach the market, nutrients are retained, making Delaware grown produce more nutritious. Our Fresh Market Availability Chart is a great reference to check before heading to the market.

• Cauliflower Soup

• Asparagus Soup

• Carrot and Bow Tie Soup

• Lima Bean Soup

Cooking with your child can educate and empower them to make healthy choices with fresh local ingredients. We have a few tips to keep cooking with children low stress and safe:

1. Bring out a step stool. Help them get involved with a safe full view of the kitchen counter.

2. Dress for a mess. It’s time to get your hands dirty, and there is no need to stress over the clothing.

3. Follow a recipe. Using a recipe helps children go step by step and learn how to measure ingredients out. We have many kid-friendly recipes to try out, https://delawaregrown.com/local-recipes/

4. Taste test. Taste-testing makes it more fun, and children are more likely to try healthy foods when they are the ones making them.

Cooking can feel overwhelming when you first start but don’t give up. Here are a few tips that can make the experience enjoyable.

1. Prep your cooking area. (This will help you stay on task)
2. Read the recipe through once before cooking.
3. Don’t crowd the pan. (Too much of any food on the pan will stop browning)
4. Season, everything.
5. Generously salt your pasta water.
6. Invest in a salad spinner. (Believe me, you’ll wish you had sooner)
7. Keep your good knife sharp.
8. For easier cleanup, line your baking sheets with parchment paper.
9. Clean as you go.

Life is better with dessert.

Its true carbohydrates help the brain and body produce chemicals like serotonin which help with overall well-being. We wouldn’t recommend having them every day, but when you need something sweet, we have recipes that include fresh fruit and loads of goodness.

Try theses recipes today –

Strawberry Tart 

Old Fashion Peach Cobbler

Stuffed Pumpkin

Baked Apples & Oats

Ever wonder how to properly store produce? Or maybe you’re tired of your fresh fruits and vegetables going bad before you have the chance to eat them. We are here to help with our produce storage tips.

COUNTERTOP
Melons        7 to 10 days
Peaches        1 to 3 days
Tomatoes        5 to 7 days   Pro Tip – Lay stem down, room temperature

PANTRY
Garlic        3 to 5 months
Onions        2 to 3 months
Potatoes        3 to 5 weeks  Pro Tip – Store with apples
Sweet Potatoes        1 to 2 weeks
Winter Squash        4 weeks

REFRIGERATOR
Apples        4 to 8 weeks
Asparagus        3 to 4 days  Pro Tip – Store upright with water
Beans         7 days
Bell peppers 1 to 2 weeks
Berries        1 to 2 weeks
Broccoli        1 to 2 weeks
Carrots        3 to 4 weeks   Pro Tip – Add water
Cherries        5 to 10 days
Cucumbers         7 days
Grapes        1 to 2 weeks
Lettuce        7 to 10 days   Pro Tip – Store with a paper towel or add a little salt
Tomatoes        1 to 2 weeks
Zucchini         1 to 2 weeks

FREEZER
Broccoli        9 to 12 months  Pro Tip – Cut and wash before freezing
Carrots         7 to 9 months
Grapes         10 to 12 months
Tomatoes        2 to 3 months   Ripe (washed and used only for cooking)

Life changed drastically for all of us but one thing remains constant, farmers are still farming. The Delaware agricultural community is working hard to provide goods in unique and safe new ways, continuing the farm family legacy of our great state. Now is the time to purchase local and support our agriculture community. Use our Pick Fresh Map to find farm stands or even try a CSA in your town.

My family, like many families, enjoy the tradition of spending Thanksgiving Day together feasting on turkey, sweet potato casserole, and many other classic holiday dishes until we are too full to eat another bite. It’s not often that family gathers together, so our family utilizes every moment over the holiday weekend. Instead of spending time in large stores fighting the lines on Black Friday, we spend the day together tagging our live Christmas tree. Something is exhilarating about a cool fall day on a Christmas Tree Farm. Local Delaware Christmas Tree farms, big and small, hold a story steeped in tradition that has become part of the memories for so many families here in Delaware and surrounding states. As you embark on your yearly trip to find the perfect live tree, please stop in the shop and check out their custom holiday-inspired ornaments or gifts. Don’t forget to grab some apple cider or hot chocolate before you venture through the farms.

Delawareans and visitors alike enjoy shopping locally for Delaware Grown products. Plan your visit based upon your current location or design a day trip and explore Delaware agriculture. Try out our Delaware Grown interactive map for local U-Picks, Farm Stands, and even Wineries.