TS Smith & Sons Kicks Off 105th Season with Tribute to Mothers

Flowers, books, music, food, and drink are all popular gifts for Mothers, but finding just the right one to make her feel special often takes a bit of effort. TS Smith & Sons will turn their farm market into a one-stop shopping experience from 11 AM to 3 PM on Saturday, May 12, just in time for Mother’s Day. TS Smith aims to make shopping enjoyable for the shopper by providing live music, food, books, wine, and informative talks from the farm and its local partners. There are things for the kids too, such as hay rides and all the fixings to make Mom a special card. Visitors can shop from many locally produced, limited edition, high quality items that will let that special Mom know she’s loved. TS Smith feels spring is just right for having such an event on the farm; it’s a time when everyone starts to get excited about the local produce that signals summer is near.

Offering their beautiful hanging baskets and potted flowers, TS Smith will feature their just-cut asparagus, local strawberries, and other local produce. Is someone you know a doughnut lover? The farm market bakery is bringing back the Blueberry Doughnuts and will be making them all day. While inside the farm market, shoppers can sample a variety of dishes made with TS Smith’s fresh cut asparagus; the recipes will be available to take at no charge.

To celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, TS Smith is offering 10% off the entire order for teachers who show their official school ID during the event.

Outside the farm market, visitors will find a wide variety of entertainment and gift ideas. Customers can support a good cause while shopping with the two non-profit partners on hand offering unique and high quality items for sale.

First, the Friends of the Lewes Library will offer their two new books for sale throughout the event. No Place Like Here, a collection of seventy-three poems, stories, and photographs about Sussex County, will be available. This anthology conveys a vision of what makes Southern Delaware unique. The marvelous photographs accompanying the writers’ work add a beautiful visual context to what makes Southern Delaware so special to residents and visitors alike. Contributing writers will be on hand to answer questions and autograph the books.

For the cook, the Friends will offer the just-printed Cooking with Lewes Friends, a taste-tempting cookbook featuring 350 favorite recipes from members of the Lewes community and beautiful photographs capturing iconic features of Lewes, as presented through the photos of Kevin Fleming, Ron MacArthur, and others. Considered a “must-have” for cooks and cookbook collectors alike, pick up this limited edition featuring local residents, chefs, and organizations while at the event.

Billie Travalini, First Place Winner of the Delaware Press Association’s Communications Contest in the area of Editing, will be on hand to answer questions about the anthology. She will be joined by Linda Blaskey, a poet from Lincoln, and Mary Pauer, Bridgeville’s own short story writer. Together, they will present short readings from 12:15 until 12:45 PM and will deliver a talk entitled, “Going from Unpublished to Published: It’s all Up to You” at 1 PM.

The second non-profit, Slow Food Delmarva, will make available the very popular Great Shoals’ “Black Twig Hard Apple” sparkling wine for sale by the glass and bottle for the event. Slow Food is a nonprofit that supports “good, clean, fair food” and builds community amongst farmers, culinary professionals, and those interested in gardening and cooking. Slow Food Delmarva considers Great Shoals’ creation a “slow wine” because it is made locally, in small batches, using TS Smith’s heirloom Black Twig apple.

Great Shoal’s Wine Maker, Matt Cimino, as well as apple grower Charlie Smith will be on hand to answer questions about growing the signature Black Twig apple as well as making the popular, limited edition “TS Smith’s Black Twig Hard Apple”, Delaware’s first and only sparkling apple wine.

More than a back drop to this fun event, Nathan Johnson, a talented singer and songwriter will perform popular cover tunes and originals during the event. Quickly becoming a favorite in the beach area, this Texas native has played professionally for more than 20 years creating a loyal following throughout the country. Nathan’s interactive style and eclectic mix is sure to please everyone. Be sure to pick up one of his four CD’s as a gift and get him to autograph it.

Children of all ages will be able to make a card for Mom and take a tractor-pulled hayride around the orchard. TS Smith encourages everyone to bring a camera and make a memory!

Cape Seasonings will offer a cooking demonstration at 11AM and will sample their products throughout the event. Cape Seasonings offers a line of gluten and preservative free seasonings for cooking as well as seasoned kettle chips and pretzels. As healthy as a snack can get, they are made with olive oil, sea salt, and pack a powerful dose of capsaicin.

Abbott’s Grill, of Milford, will present a cooking demonstration by Executive Chef Ryan Cunningham at noon and will serve meals to go throughout the day. Why not treat your special someone to Abbott’s fresh and flavorful creations!

TS Smith’s “Second Saturday” series of monthly on-farm events are planned for the second Saturday of each month from May through November, followed by a Holiday Open House December 1. Each event celebrates produce and holidays of the season by offering cooking and preserving tips, samples, entertainment, informative talks and demonstrations, farm tours, hay rides, unique offerings from non-profit partners, and more.

Throughout the Event from 11 AM to 3 PM
Hay Rides
Samples & Recipes
Abbott’s Grill “To Go”
Live Music by Nathan Johnson
Local Literary Anthology and Cookbook Sales
Flower and produce sales
“Make a Card for Mom” children’s craft table
Meet the Winemaker and Apple Farmer

Special Presentations
11:00 Cooking demonstration by Cape Seasonings
12:00 Cooking demonstration by Abbott’s Grill
12:15-12:45: Selected readings by anthology authors; question and answer time, autographs
1:00 Informative Writer’s Talk: “Going from Unpublished to Published: It’s All Up to You”

With school ending, the next event celebrates “summer vacation” and is full of fun for the kids. Father’s Day gift ideas will also be featured. Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 9 from 10 AM to 3 PM because you’ll want to make this a monthly habit!

Visit www.tssmithandsons.com for more information or call (302)337-8271.

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