This article was updated to include the reason provided by the farmers’ market for the cancellation.
REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. - The Rehoboth Beach Farmers’ Market says Tuesday’s market at Grove Park was canceled after Delaware State Urban Forestry determined that some trees in the park are dangerous and need to be removed.
The cancellation came just hours after the market had been promoting Tuesday’s event, which is viewed by many as a summer staple in Rehoboth Beach. The city’s public information officer said the decision to cancel Tuesday’s event was made independently by the Rehoboth Beach Farmers’ Market.
CoastTV is told the late cancellation means many vendors had already made or prepared products they planned to sell Tuesday. Old World Breads owner Keith Irwin says he has roughly $5,000 worth of product he will instead need to sell at his Lewes location.
Tuesday's cancellation comes weeks after the health of Grove Park’s trees and the farmers’ market’s use of the park were discussed during a July 20 Rehoboth Beach Environmental Advisory Committee meeting.
SavATree, a professional tree-care company hired to assess Grove Park, concluded that years of heavy foot traffic and vehicle activity had caused significant soil and root compaction, contributing to canopy decline and branch dieback. The company recommended that the farmers’ market permanently relocate.
The Delaware Forest Service reached a different conclusion, describing the overall tree canopy as generally healthy and recommending additional measures to protect tree roots and reduce soil compaction rather than calling for the market to relocate.
Because of the differing assessments, the committee requested a third evaluation from a DNREC urban forester. The farmers’ market now says Delaware State Urban Forestry determined that some trees in Grove Park are dangerous and need to be removed.
