PRESS RELEASE: At-Large Councilman James Spadola Urges DNREC to Preserve Brandywine Farmers Market at Josephine Fountain Location
Monday, April 13, 2026
At-Large Councilman James Spadola Urges DNREC to Preserve Brandywine Farmers Market at Josephine Fountain Location
Wilmington, DE – Wilmington City Councilman At-Large James Spadola is calling on the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) to preserve the Brandywine Farmers Market at its current Josephine Fountain location in Brandywine Park on a full weekly schedule.
DNREC has proposed limiting the market to alternating weekends at the fountain location, citing turf maintenance and parking concerns. An alternative location near the Jasper Crane Rose Garden has also been offered, but market organizers believe even a shift of a few hundred feet would fundamentally alter the character of the market, disrupt the infrastructure carefully built around the current site, and create confusion for the customers who know exactly where to find it every Saturday morning.
In its first season, the market was a tremendous success, serving as a small business incubator for more than 100 small businesses and local farms, generating over $1.5 million in revenue collectively, and contributing over $50,000 in fees to DNREC and the Brandywine Zoo.
Councilman Spadola said: “I understand DNREC’s concerns, and I have great respect for the leadership and staff there. But I also know creative solutions exist: whether it’s repurposing Monkey Hill Road to alleviate parking concerns with increased DNREC and WPD presence, or increased fees to fund field mitigation, the organizers are ready to work with DNREC to find the answer. Let’s figure it out and get this done.”
Katie Kutler, the market’s organizer, said: “We’ve worked hard to make this a place where Wilmington families can access fresh, locally grown food every week. The market is volunteer-led, with setup beginning as early as 6 a.m. every Saturday. Reconfiguring that system repeatedly is an absolute logistical challenge that puts the market’s viability at risk. One rainout on a bi-weekly schedule and you’ve lost a month.”
Tony Marchiani, a Wilmington resident and owner of Micro Fresh Farm, said: “My wife and I live here in Wilmington, and it’s where we built Micro Fresh Farm. The Brandywine Farmers Market was our launchpad: it’s where we proved the concept, found our first customers, and learned what it means to grow something from nothing. Go bi-weekly and you don’t just lose frequency, you lose the whole support system’s momentum. One rainout on an every-other-week schedule and you’ve gone a full month without service. That’s not a farmers market anymore. That’s an occasional event, and occasional events don’t build communities or grow small businesses rooted in this city.”
Wilmington residents Sarah and Tom Elder of Trolley Square said: “The town truly came to life when this market started. Because of it, we’ve connected with more neighbors, farmers, and small businesses, and built our weekends around cooking, gathering, and walkable access to fresh, seasonal food. I cannot imagine not having this right in the park, and it would be an incredible loss for our community.”
“When something is working this well for small businesses, for families, and for the city as a whole, the priority needs to be to find a way to support it, period,” Councilman James Spadola said.
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MEDIA CONTACT:Yesenia TaverasDirector of Communications, Wilmington City CouncilOffice: (302)576-2585
Mobile: (302)757-5748Email: ytaveras@wilmingtonde.govCity Council Website: www.wilmingtoncitycouncil.com