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Farmers & Artisans Market turns 10

(Dec. 22, 2020) Next year marks a major milestone for the Ocean Pines Farmers & Artisans Market, as the marketplace will celebrate its tenth anniversary in the spring.  

David Bean, who has served as the market manager in Ocean Pines for the last nine years, said an anniversary celebration is set for June 5, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., in White Horse Park.  

"We are ready to celebrate what we've accomplished over this past decade," he said.  

Founded in 2012 as a small community farmers market, Bean said the Ocean Pines staple has grown to become the largest year-round farmers and artisans' market on Delmarva. In 2016, the market updated its name by adding "artisans," in recognition of the popular artisan and crafter section. 

Bean said the anniversary event would feature live music. Other special activities are also being planned, dependent on the COVID-19 pandemic environment at that time. 

“Where Weekends Begin in Ocean Pines" is the market's tag line, he said, and that speaks to the market's success and support from its loyal shoppers.  

One thing that makes the Ocean Pines marketplace so unique, he said, is how it has grown over the years.  

“The market attracts an outstanding selection of merchants from Delmarva and beyond,” he said. “It's one of the things we are proudest of.” 

Over the years, the Ocean Pines market has promoted awareness and educational programs through the “Kids’ Market Zone,” “Meet Me at the Market” DIY workshops, and the extremely popular “Open-air Marketplace Kitchen.”  

"We collaborate with our market merchants, local chefs, and culinary experts to put on free educational cooking seminars about how to cook with the high-nutrition and low-cost foods found at the market," Maggie Hearn, the market's resident chef instructor, said. 

Bean said many who shop at the Ocean Pines market are from neighboring towns, but the draw has also expanded even farther because of the region’s vast tourist industry.  

“The Ocean Pines market has always been a community hub with locals supporting locals, and we want to continue expanding our programming to grow with the Worcester County community,” Bean said. “We’re excited about our future." 

He added that, because the market works to keep its merchant fees as low as possible, it allows virtually everyone to try their hand at selling their handmade artisan crafts at the market. That promotes the incubation of local small businesses.  

"Over the years, we've seen several of our merchants grow their market business into local storefronts in surrounding small-town communities,” Bean said.  

The Ocean Pines Farmers & Artisans Market runs every Saturday, year-round, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through March 2021. In-season hours, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., start in April.   

For more information, visit www.oceanpines.org/web/pages/farmers-artisans-market.