Dry Spell Hits Flower Farmers Hard at Rehoboth Beach Farmers Market

by Anna

Drought Takes Toll on Flower Vendors at Rehoboth Beach Farmers Market.

REHOBOTH BEACH, DE – Ongoing drought conditions across the Delmarva Peninsula are leaving a mark on some vendors at Rehoboth Beach Farmers Market, particularly flower sellers who have started feeling the impact of nearly a month without rain.

With dry weather affecting the peninsula, farmers across the region are reporting challenges due to the lack of rainfall. On Tuesday, flower vendors at the Rehoboth Beach Farmers Market spoke with WBOC, sharing concerns about the drought’s impact on their products.

Chris Sylvester, owner of Spectrum Farms in Felton, Delaware, is one of the affected farmers. Without a full irrigation system, Spectrum Farms has seen some of its fields decline since early October. Sylvester noted this is about a month sooner than expected, with the severity of the impact depending on when the first frost arrives.

“Our flowers’ stem lengths weren’t as tall, and the blooms weren’t as robust,” Sylvester said. “We love bringing products to the market and aim to offer an abundant supply, but we’ve noticed reductions in stem length, stem counts, and overall quality due to the drought.”

Turning to Alternatives

Despite the dry conditions, Sylvester and his team have managed to keep their market stand stocked by using back-up flower fields and complementing their displays with pumpkins and other items. Still, he expressed concern for the annual flowers planted for next season.

“When the market opens again in May, we’ll have spring flowers, but we need to establish them now,” Sylvester said. “We’re hoping for rain soon. This drought not only impacts this season’s crops but also raises worries about next year’s yield.”

Some market shoppers, like Scott Shaughnessy, have noticed the drought’s effect on the vendors. A regular at the farmers market, Shaughnessy shared that he’s had to purchase flowers from grocery stores occasionally, preferring to buy directly from local growers when possible.

“I’m all about supporting local farmers and growers,” Shaughnessy said. “I trust their methods and the quality of their products far more.”

Preparing for the Future

The challenges this season have served as a wake-up call for Spectrum Farms. Sylvester mentioned that the drought has underscored the need for a reliable irrigation system as they look toward future seasons.

“It’s made us realize how essential irrigation is,” Sylvester said. “We had plans to expand our farm by a few acres next year, but we’ll be holding off on that until we can set up a proper well and irrigation system.”

As dry conditions continue across Delmarva, farmers like Sylvester remain hopeful for rain, recognizing both the immediate and long-term impacts on their crops.

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