In the Market for Fresh and Local?

With seven vendors, the Farmers Market at on Wednesdays isn’t the biggest market around, but it is packed with delicious deals and friendly sellers. 

Now in its second year, the market offers the best of fresh and local, from baked goods to cheese to meat to coffee to the traditional fruits and vegetables.  Everything sold at all of the Howard County Farmers Markets are “producer-only,” meaning they are guaranteed to come from the farmer from which you make your purchase.

When you enter the market, parking may be at a premium.  Even in the oppressive heat last week there were customers ready to browse and buy.

The first stop is at the TLV Tree Farm stand.  A full-time, family owned and run business, TLV is located in Glenelg and year-round operations include pumpkins and hayrides in the fall and Christmas trees in the winter.  The Brown family runs TLV, and the stand at the market is manned by soon-to-be family member Jen Poston.  Even the additional two helpers are related.

TLV has been at farmers markets for the past 30 years, and was an original vendor at the Sunday Oakland Mills market, which the Brown family helped establish. Their best selling items are sweet corn and tomatoes.  Jen’s favorites are the meats and fresh chicken, which is processed right before the market – usually day-of – so it’s about 6 hours fresh.

Next up is The Cosmic Bean Coffee Company, which has a presence at all of the farmers markets in Howard County. Based out of Millersville, owner Rob Haroth has been roasting beans behind his house for about 8 years. His wife, Carolyn, makes the teas and handmade soaps that round out the offering. 

The booth is manned by Bob Preston who notes that the market “has been great for us. The vendors are great; the customers are great…I enjoy it immensely.”  Preston said he appreciates being part of a growing small business and bringing a product he loves to the customers.  His favorite is the Nicaraguan product, and everything is offered “whole bean or drip” in two sizes. 

Third down the line is the Stone House Bakery, out of the Westminster area. A shopper or browser could lose oneself in the breads, pies, rolls and cupcakes at this booth. The bakery is well-represented at farmers markets across Howard County and the surrounding area, and all of the goods are homemade by Lois Trout, even down to the pie crusts and jelly. 

The Stone House Bakery stands out because they prefer to use other local farm products in the baked goods; apples and peaches are from a local farm and milk and eggs from South Mountain Creamery. 

Betty, who helps sell the products, notes that they like to support local farmers, and everything is “all homemade and all fresh like grandma and great-grandma used to make.”  She adds that recipes are unique and the cobbler recipe in particular has been in the family for more than 120 years.

Next to the baked goods table is Bowling Green Farm. It is one of only three dairy farmers left in Howard County, and a 10^th generation farm.  Owner Mitzi Jones explains that there is “no money in milk anymore” so last August they diversified into cheese, debuting at the Howard County Fair.  Adding cheese to the farm’s repertoire was a natural fit as it allowed them to do something similar without making big changes.  They sell cheese, butter and cheese spread at the market, and their best sellers are the tomato basil cheddar and the dill farmer’s cheese. 

It takes 10 gallons of milk to produce one pound of cheese, and the farm is currently sending one load of milk into cheese production a month (as opposed to one load of milk every two days).  That cheese ends up at three of the local farmers markets as well as MOMS and David’s Natural Market.

Lewis Orchards, out of Cavetown, is another family-run business, with Shirley and Nevin Lewis and their granddaughter Heather helping customers.  They too were an original member of the Oakland Mills market, and now spend their time at a number of markets across the region. 

The orchard fruit is luscious and of course seasonal.  Early on, sweet cherries were a best seller and right now peaches and nectarines top the list.  They will also have pears, all kinds of apples and much more throughout the season.

Finally, at Little Peace and Quiet Farm, an array of veggies is on display. Owned by Bobby and his parents out of Hartford County, they are a newer farm but already known especially for their sweet corn and green beans.  Zucchinis, eggplants, potatoes, onions, cabbages and tomatoes are all available.

The family of three pick 40 acres of produce themselves, but other family members (such as brother-in-law Nick) help at the markets.  Bobby notes that picking by hand and planting are the best part of the job, and that it keeps them very busy. Their big and unique selection includes candy onions and red zeppelins, which you may be hard pressed to find at another market.

The The Howard County Economic Development Authority’s Agricultural Marketing Program hosts Farmers Markets around the County. The Ellicott City Market is located at 9130 Frederick Road on Wednesdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Check for a schedule of Farmers Markets around the county.