Cary NC – After two hectic weeks helping organize Spring Daze and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Benefit show, I’m back and rested and ready to talk business.

Win Cool Stuff at FRESH Fundraiser

Be sure to attend FRESH, A Celebration of Local Harvest, on Friday, May 21 from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Umstead Hotel & Spa.

The reception features local food from local farmers, with proceeds going to support the Western Wake Farmers’ Market and its educational and hunger prevention initiatives. The FRESH fundraiser also features a silent auction with a variety of goods and services, from tickets to the Durham Performing Arts Center, cooking classes, jewelry, pottery, rounds of golf, instructional camps and more. The auction items have all been donated by businesses supporting the Western Wake Farmers’ Market.

You could bid on a Private Cupping Session, where you will learn how to select the coffees you buy and how to brew the best coffee at home, courtesy of the Muddy Dog Roasting Co. Or how about a three-hour private cooking lesson focusing on classic French sauces, with The Studious Chef? Classy Kids Cook offers a variety of items on which to bid, including a parent/child cooking class, an adult cooking class and a child’s after-school cooking class.

Learn to be a beginner homebrewer at Tir na nog, in an educational session conducted by American Brewmaster. They’re also donating home brewing equipment. Wouldn’t that be a great gift for Father’s Day?

Lochmere Golf Club and Prestonwood Golf Club have both donated rounds of golf for four duffers and the Cary YMCA offers a one-week summer or track out camp. If you need a break, bid on six hours of child care from Right Time Kids. Then bid on two tickets to see The Color Purple at Durham Performing Arts Center on May 26, donated by Scot and Terri Johnson.

There are so many items to bid on, from a reiki treatment to color consultation for your home to facials to hair products, we encourage you to check out the complete list at www.westernwakefarmersmarket.org.

Tickets to the reception are $60 per person, with $30 from each ticket being tax deductible. They’re available at the Western Wake Farmers’ Market on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon, cash or check, or online via credit card.

Herons chef Scott Crawford is creating a delicious menu of seasonal, local food, including seafood, meats, cheeses and breads, fruits and vegetables, desserts and more, plus cocktails, wine and beer. Local singer and guitarist Michael George Gonazlez will provide the musical entertainment for the evening.

Have fun!

TBJ Invites You to BizMix in Cary

Triangle Business Journal holds bizmix Cary on Monday, May 17 at 5 p.m. at The Matthews House on West Chatham Street in Cary.

The event includes more than 100 business leaders in a structured, connection-building program that helps them boost their businesses.

Tickets are $15 for subscribes of TBJ and $25 for non-subscribers. The price includes light drinks and hors d’oeuvres.

To register, go here.

Icarus Cuts 75 Jobs Including CEO

Cary-based video game developer Icarus Studios Inc. has cut 75 jobs and said goodbye to CEO James Hettinger as part of a company restructuring to reduce costs.

The company recently released the multiplayer online game Fallen Earth.

Jessica Orr, marketing manager, said the company was having financial issue and that the cuts were made for the “healthy and overall wellness of the company.”

That didn’t really impress my neighbor, a nice guy who was one of the 75 out the door.

Gift & Paper Boutique Launches eCommerce Shop

Cary’s Cute Buttons Gift and Paper boutique offers customes an opportunity to shop all the time, even when the store is closed.

The boutique has launched an ecommerce model at www.shopcutebuttons.com, where customers can shop any time they like. They can also shop by phone.

Cut Buttons Gift and Paper Boutique specializes in pretty paper, including wedding and party invitations, baby and graduation announcements, personalized stationery and a few colorful gifts.

Alison Kim Perry, owner of Cute Buttons said she’s excited to be providing her customers with the same type of shopping experiece online as they get in the store in downtown Cary, at 312 W. Chatham St.

“We’re thrilled to be launching this new ecommerce boutique,” she said. “We pride ourselves on working hard to provide our customers with cute products and the type of shopping experience while on the internet.”

For more info, call 919-472-9618.

News from the Chamber

The Chamber’s annual Small Business Awards is this Thursday, May 13 at noon at Embassy Suites, 201 Harrison Oakes Blvd. The event celebrates small business success in the community. Be sure to register by visiting www.carychamber.com or call 919-467-1016.

Business After Hours takes place Thursday, May 13 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at YES! Solar Solutions, 410 Ledgestone Way. Join us for A Night in New Orleans with food, networking and fun. For information, call 919-459-4155.

Business of Women takes place May 20 at Prestonwood Country Club, with Elaine Smith of E-Destinations. She’ll speak to the group about Top Ten Travel Ideas for the Summer and Beyond, just in time for a little break after a long year of work. $15 in advance, $20 at the door, the event is sponsored by WBON-Cary, Hall & Burns Wealth Management and Woodland Terrace. Register at www.carychamber.com or call 919-467-1016.

Got News?

Something interesting happening with your business? Email brenda.larson@carycitizen.com.

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“My Lucky Golf Outfit” by Jeff The Trojan via a Flickr Creative Commons license.

Cary, N.C. – The Western Wake Farmers’ Market is sponsoring FRESH: A Celebration of Local Harvest on Fri., May 21, 6-8 p.m. at The Umstead Hotel & Spa.

This fundraiser will showcase the flavor and freshness of seasonal produce and local foods with Herons Executive Chef Scott Crawford’s culinary excellence. Tickets are available at www.WesternWakeFarmersMarket.org. You can also buy them on Saturday mornings at the market.

The FRESH fundraiser features the artfully prepared, seasonal cuisine of Executive Chef Scott Crawford accompanied by complimentary cocktails, wine and beer. Tickets are $60 per person for the standing reception, which includes drinks, hors d’oeuvres, carving station, specialty cheese and bread display, seafood presentation, and an assortment of desserts with seasonal fruit.

Visit with farmers and artisans from the market while savoring the fruits of their labors and listening to the sultry vocals of guitarist and songwriter Michael George Gonzalez .  Learn more about how and why bringing local foods to Western Wake County matters to them.

The fundraiser will also feature a silent auction of services, gift baskets and other items from businesses in the community.  Proceeds of the fundraiser and auction will support the farmers’ market and its educational initiatives related to local, healthful eating.  Any businesses that wish to donate to the auction or the market itself, should contact Lisa Flanagan .

Attire is business casual, and complimentary valet parking is available.  For guests who would like to enjoy the comforts of this luxurious Forbes Five Star hotel and spa on the evening of May 21, the Umstead is offering a special rate of $179. Call 919-447-4050 and mention booking code WEST0510 for this rate.

The Western Wake Farmers’ Market is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. The market’s mission is for all people in our community to become educated about and benefit from locally grown food. The aim is to help all walks of life, from the farmers to the local community members to those less fortunate who might need assistance through the local food bank. The WWFM partners with the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle in recovering nutritious, perishable foods for the hungry in our area.

Thanks to Michele McKinley for this story.

Soggy fields in and around Cary are being prepped for Spring

Cary, N. C. – Michele McKinley of the Western Wake Farmers Market contacted the CaryCitizen this week to give us an update on the upcoming season for the WWFM. Maybe it was an answer to my prayers to take me away from the cold and rain and snow.

The market will reopen for its second season on Saturday, April 3.   Said Market Manager Kim Hunter, “Even though the market has been closed for the winter, we are busy working with vendors and community partners to make our market even better this year.”  Here’s a peek at some of the work behind the scenes to prepare for the market’s spring opening.

The Vendors

Farmers across North Carolina are planning their spring and summer crops. Strawberry plants have been in ground for several months, and farmers are nurturing seedlings in their greenhouses as they prepare for spring planting.  Meanwhile, market organizers are reviewing vendor applications and visiting vendors at their farms and businesses.

If there are any vendors that you would like to see at the WWFM, Michele tells us that you should contact the market by sending an email to  info@WesternWakeFarmersMarket.org.

Helping the Hungry

Last year, market vendors generously donated produce and more to the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, which stopped by the market each week at closing time to pick up donations. The Food Shuttle then made deliveries to area food pantries and community centers to prepare the perishable foods for the hungry.

For the 2010 season, market organizers hope to expand giving through a new Farmer FoodShare Program, modeled after one volunteer’s efforts at the Carrboro Farmers Market last year. This program helps shoppers get involved each week by purchasing extra produce, eggs, breads, etc. and dropping them off at the market’s Donation Station. The market will continue to partner with the Food Shuttle to deliver these foods to those in need.

In addition, the WWFM has applied to the Leaflight Foundation’s 21^st Century Farmers’ Market, which would allow the farmers’ market to process EBT (electronic benefits transfer), credit and debit transactions. The EBT replaces the paper food stamps of years ago and allows qualified recipients to shop for healthy, fresh foods at the market. Other shoppers reap the benefit of being able to use a credit or debit card at the market, rather than just cash and checks.

“The 21^st Century Farmers’ Market program is such a great way to help local farmers and those who need access to healthy foods, rather than processed, boxed and canned foods,” said WWFM President Juliann Zoetmulder. “Supporting small family farms and providing access to local foods for all people is really important to the farmers’ market board members. We hope to be accepted for the program this spring but will let everyone know when that happens.”

Education and Communications

The farmers’ market continues to update its web site, www.WesternWakeFarmersMarket.org, with information on eating local.

In addition to news about local food events and policy, the market strives to highlight national discussion about the local food movement, sustainability and the importance of small farms and make that relevant on a local level here in Western Wake County. Educating people about eating local is one of the WWFM’s goals.

Market organizers also are working to enhance the web site with more vendor information, archiving, photos and recipes before the market opens. In the meantime, Cary citizens may sign up for the WWFM’s free e-newsletter, Western Wake Eats, for more market and local food news.

Area Sponsorship Grows

The staff at The Umstead Hotel and Spa and Herons are also working closely with the WWFM to help raise funds for the upcoming season.

The Umstead, a WWFM sponsor, will host a fundraiser showcasing local foods from market vendors on Friday, May 21, 6-8 pm.  Details are still in the works, but tickets will be on sale for this special event that celebrates seasonal, local produce as well as local meats, breads, cheese and other products from farmers’ market vendors.

Guests will have a great opportunity to visit with our farmers and artisans and learn more about how and why they farm and do business the way they do, plus enjoy local music and great food at the beautiful Umstead Hotel.  Whole Foods Market of Cary and Great Harvest Bread Co. also are lending their support to the market with donations and fundraising opportunities this spring and summer.

“Support from businesses around town has been so essential to building the sense of community around the market and furthering its mission,” Zoetmulder said. “We’ve posted information on sponsorship levels and benefits for the 2010 season at our web site and look forward to partnering with more local businesses that share our passion for local food access, hunger prevention and education.”

Mark Your Calendar:  April 3

Starting April 3, the market will be open every Saturday through November 20, rain or shine, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht will join vendors on opening day.

Spring is just around the corner!

With special thanks to Michele McKinley for the update and the photos.

Farmers' market vendors hoop houses are used to nurture seeds before the weather warms

Fall Produce Display

By Michele McKinley

Cary, N.C.  With a chill in the air the Western Wake Farmers’ Market (WWFM) ended the 2009 season on Saturday November 21. Market Manager Kim Hunter rang the closing bell.  The workers, organizers, vendors and entertainers enjoyed a short celebration of the inaugural year’s success.

What had begun as a seedling of an idea among a group of Cary moms grew into a community venue for friends and families every Saturday since May.  The WWFM, which featured more than 32 vendors from within 125 miles of the marketplace, served not only as a focal point for local foods but local musicians with a lot of talent and experts who shared information about the benefits of eating locally.  This new market is part of a nationwide increase in farmers’ markets this year.  In October, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the number of farmers’ markets in the United States increased 13 percent from a year earlier. 

“More and more, people want to be connected to their food sources,” said Juliann Zoetmulder, president of the market’s board. “The success of our first-year market shows that this matters to people.  And we’re so glad that our vendors took a leap of faith to start this market so that all of us in Western Wake County could get to know our farmers, support them and eat healthy foods.” 

A number of factors are likely contributors to the growing demand for markets like this one:  fall-out from the economy, numerous food recalls from tainted produce and meats, and growing environmental concerns about the repercussions of shipping foods thousands of miles.  Whatever the reason, the market enjoyed a great following with shoppers returning week after week.

“When we started talking about this market just about a year ago, we simply wanted to feed our families with healthy foods grown locally,” said Amy Lee, vice president of the market.  “And what we’ve got now is a great place to stroll around with a cup of coffee or a lemonade and shop each week.  Plus we’re keeping our food dollars local to support family farms, educating our community about sustainable farming and other green topics, and helping get food to those in need.  We are all really excited about how the WWFM has ‘grown’ this first year.”

 The market will reopen April 3.  In the meantime, the market web site will continue to feature local food news, vendor updates and more.  See you at the market next spring!

Market vendors toast the success of this year's market season and future of the Western Wake Farmers' Market

Davis the High Horse

As reader Bob Hickey correctly answered on Facebook, a new sculpture is gracing our fair town. Bob identified the location as the corner of Davis Drive and High House. He also coined a nickname which sounds like a keeper.

One editor’s humble opinion: it’s a pretty nice statue.

How Do You Like These Apples

We ran into the Apple Man at the Western Wake Farmer’s Market. This gentleman grows the most amazing varieties of apples including the Arkansas Black pictured here. You’ll never eat a Red Delicious again.

Here are some other pictures from the WWFM on Saturday at Carpenter Village.

Documentary: This is Green Hope

We write about Green Hope a lot because one of my kids goes there (love to get some stories from other town high schools, people!).

Anyway, we always like to run a picture with a story if possible, but have never found very appealing shots of the school. So I took a couple of pictures of a documentary nature.

Horizontal and vertical. WCPSS is free to borrow.

All photos by Hal Goodtree.

Thanksgiving Food Drive at the Farmer’s Market to benefit the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle.

Start your holiday shopping at the Fall Craft Festival at the Western Wake Farmers’ Market on Sat., Nov. 7 from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at Carpenter Village Marketplace, 1226 Morrisville Carpenter Rd. in Cary. Shoppers are encouraged to bring canned goods and other non-perishable food items for the market’s Thanksgiving Food Drive. All donations will go to the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, which has seen a great increase in need for assistance this year.More than 40 local artists and crafters from our community will showcase and sell their handcrafted works, including pottery, jewelry, ornaments, cards, oil paintings, prints, photography, baby and kids’ gifts, baskets and more.

Jewelry maker Sarah Parker Heermann of Silverkiln Studio, uses pure silver, bronze and copper for her unique designs. Heermann, who will be equipped to take fingerprints on Saturday to make custom jewelry, strives to make eco-friendly jewelry.  Shari Fowler of Iberian Inspirations makes organic body polishes and lotions, and Ben Tuorto of Vesta Fiery Gourmet Toppings will sell his fresh, natural, chile-based topping. Tuorto uses a variety of chili peppers from his own garden and local farmers as the base for these gourmet toppings.  These are just a few of the types of products that will be featured at the Fall Craft Festival. 

 

An ATM will be available at the market, and all the usual farmers’ market vendors will be there too.Get a hot coffee and a sweet treat from our vendors, and enjoy the shopping!