Cary, NC – The air was mild and sweet for opening day of Cary’s two Farmers Markets. Yes, we are a rich town, with fresh-from-the-farm produce on sale in two locations every Saturday from April until November.

Cary Farmers Market
744 E. Chatham Road

Western Wake Farmers Market
1226 Morrisville- Carpenter Rd.

Early produce was plentiful including organic peppers, spring onions, collards tops, yams and much more.

A steady crowd traded cash for food at both locations. Mayor Harold Weinbrecht made an appearance at the markets and there was musical entertainment, face painting and other diversions for young and old.

Here are a few pictures from opening day at the markets.

The season has just begun, so plan on stopping by next week so that more farmers, bakers, artists and crafters are encouraged to bring their wares to our fair town.

Who doesn’t need fresh vegetables?

CaryCitizen photos by Brenda Larson & Hal Goodtree. You can also see this slide show on Flickr..

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!

Open Saturday mornings through Nov. 21 at Carpenter Village Marketplace in Cary, the Western Wake Farmers’ Market features more than 30 farmers and artisans. Offerings include NC-caught seafood, meats from grass-fed and free-range animals, seasonal fruits and vegetables, eggs, fresh and aged cheeses, artisan breads and pastries, sweets, jewelry, hand-made skin care and cleaning products, flowers and more.

All market goods are grown, harvested or crafted within 125 miles of the marketplace. Why does eating local matter?

“Most food products in the grocery store travel an average of 1,500 miles,” said Juliann Zoetmulder, WWFM president. “The environmental cost of that travel is staggering, not to mention the loss of nutritional value and flavor. Because all our vendors are local, the food retains more of its nutrients, the environmental impact is minimal, and we help local economies by supporting our farmers,” she said.

Part of the market’s mission is for the community to become educated about and benefit from locally grown food. To that end, each week an expert is in the Education Tent. Educators have included chefs cooking locally, nutritionists, composting and gardening experts, and recycling and solar energy enthusiasts, among others. Plus, the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle picks up donations at the end of each market.

The WWFM showcases local musicians as well, who play the market on a pro bono basis. There is an incredible pool of local talent with varying styles, from pop to jazz, blues to rock. The live weekly music adds another dimension of flavor at the market.

The market’s web site, www.WesternWakeFarmersMarket.org, regularly features new articles on local food topics, events, vendor information, what’s in season, and more. Western Wake Eats, the market’s free weekly e-newsletter, highlights what is offered at market in a given week, as well as the featured educator and musician of the week.

The WWFM is open 8 a.m.-12:00 noon currently, but market hours change in November, so check the web site. On Nov. 7, the market will feature its Fall Craft Festival and Thanksgiving Food Drive with local artists and crafters selling their products. Shoppers are asked to bring non-perishable food items for donation to the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. Area artists and crafters must submit applications (on the market’s home page) for the festival by Oct. 26.

Get fresh, nourishing, tasty local produce at the Western Wake Market and support the community as well. There’s no better way to start your Saturday.

Mayor Weinbrecht and the gang at WWFM

Photos courtesy of Western Wake Farmer’s Market