She said she and her suppliers - a Jarrettsville natural honey producer and a free-range chicken raiser - meet to discuss what new items customers might buy. They are talking about adding beeswax candles.
"The more we hear about food security and contamination issues, the better it is for markets like ours," said her sister-in-law, Kate Dallam, an owner of Broom's Bloom Dairy in the Fountain Green section of Harford County.
"The perception of farmers' markets used to be you could get seasonal, local produce for less money. Now, there is a change. Customers think you can get really good, safe products in general. They like that," Dallam said.
"The whole idea of manufactured food is a nightmare," said Brande Meese of Bolton Hill as she shopped at the Waverly market. "The idea of buying local is a natural. It makes perfect sense - the less you have to trek."
"I can't tell why we're getting more customers," said Dave Hochheimer, a Lineboro orchard owner. "Sales are so fast that we don't have time to talk."
"It's a way to stay in farming when so much in the agricultural business is stacked against you," said Chris Reid of Buchanan Valley Orchard. "These markets give farmers a viable livelihood and bring more buyers fresh produce."
Chris Reid, the second generation of his family to grow fruit, said, "One of our philosophies has been to diversify. We look at what people are asking for. We listen to what people say they had as kids."
In this regard, he offers certain items such as two varieties of gooseberries (used by Baltimore chef Spike Gjerde at his Woodberry Kitchen) and red and black currants. Throughout the year, he picks strawberries, cherries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, peaches and apples. He also grows 10 varieties of plums.
"It's always a busy time of the year when you have peaches and tomatoes," said Kevin Tuckey, a farmer from Biglersville, Pa., who traveles to Towson's Allegheny Avenue weekly for that community's farmers' market.
Customers are realizing this summer that they had best get to farmers' markets well before the posted closing hours.
"I'm disappointed," said Freya Sonenstein as she looked at an empty truck that earlier had been full of corn. "It's all gone."
jacques.kelly@baltsun.com
Partial list of farmers' markets
Baltimore
Saratoga Street between Holliday and Gay streets, under the JFX Viaduct, 8 a.m. to noon Sundays until Oct. 25.
Harbor East - 1600 Lancaster St., between South Exeter Street and Central Avenue, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 25.
Waverly - East 32nd and Barclay streets, 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays, all year
Suburbs
Towson - Allegheny Avenue between York Road and Washington Avenue: 10:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays through Nov. 20; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays through Nov. 22 (Allegheny Avenue at Washington Avenue)
Carroll County - Smith Avenue and Carroll County Agricultural Center, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays through Sept. 6.
Howard County - 6600 Cradlerock Way, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Nov. 20
Bel Air - Mary Risteau Building, parking lot, 2 S. Bond St., 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturdays through Oct. 25; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Oct. 28.
