This article has been updated to include quotes from Henry Bennett and more photos.
FRANKFORD, Del.- Bennett Orchards received a $53,999 grant through a Delaware program aimed at improving access to healthy, affordable food in communities with limited grocery options.
The sixth-generation family farm, which has grown fruit in Delaware since 1867, is among 28 recipients in the spring 2026 round of the Delaware Grocery Initiative and First State Food System Grant Program.
The Delaware Division of Small Business initiative presented the ceremonial check at Bennett Orchards, 31442 Peachtree Lane, on Aug. 17. Director CJ Bell and state Sen. Darius Brown were in attendance.
The peaches in the right hand are from trees not near the wind machine, the ones in the left hand were near the wind machine according to Bennett.
Bennett Orchards says it plans to use the grant to expand research into protecting crops from spring frost. The farm previously studied the use of a wind machine to protect peaches. The peaches in the right hand are from trees not near the wind machine, the ones in the left hand were near the wind machine according to Bennett.
"Any temperatures below 28 degrees can significantly wipe out or reduce your yield. And what wind machines do is they're permanently affixed in the orchard, and they're going to mix any hot air that's rising with any cold air at ground level," said Henry Bennett.
The farm previously studied the use of a wind machine to protect peaches. It will now install a wind machine in part of its blueberry acreage to determine whether the technology can reduce frost damage and improve yields.
Bennett will now install a wind machine in part of its blueberry acreage to determine whether the technology can reduce frost damage and improve yields.
According to the Delaware Division of Small Business, the grant program supports efforts to increase access to nutritious and affordable food in communities identified as food deserts or at risk of becoming food deserts.
"We're optimistic that it's going to continue to put more and more peaches and better blueberries directly in our community," said Bennett.
Funding was open to Delaware farmers, independent and community grocery stores, including businesses offering culturally diverse foods, as well as food banks, food pantries and other organizations and businesses involved in the food supply chain.
The 28 recipients in the spring funding round received a combined $712,500. Individual awards ranged from $12,000 to $65,000.
