Summer is officially here, and so is the bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers. From succulent peaches and sweet blueberries to crisp cucumbers and juicy tomatoes, there’s a bounty of local produce waiting for you at your local farmers market.
But, there’s more than produce at the four state-operated markets in Asheville, Charlotte, Colfax and Raleigh. Not only will you find fresh fruits and vegetables, you’ll also find meats and seafood, cheeses, wines, plants and gardening supplies. All from North Carolina. Keep reading to see what’s available this week at each of the markets:
WNC Farmers Market, Asheville – Local farmers are picking watermelons, peaches, squash and cucumbers. There’s also a good supply of blackberries and blueberries, as well as growing selection of field tomatoes. Flower lovers can pick up hanging baskets and bedding plants.
Charlotte Regional Farmers Market, Charlotte – Market vendors have various meat products, eggs, honey, seafood, blackberries, blueberries, peaches, plums, asparagus, beets, carrots, cabbage, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, peppers, onions, tomatoes, leafy greens, squash, sweet potatoes, white potatoes and zucchini.
Special Event: A Bog Garden Workshop will be held Friday, June 26, at 4 p.m. People can learn about carnivorous plants and how to grow them. A free bog garden will be given away (worth $50) to one lucky participant.
Robert G. Shaw Piedmont Triad Farmers Market, Colfax – Lima beans, string beans, blackberries and blueberries are all available, as well as kale, cabbage and corn. Squash and zucchini are in abundance. Also, look for some early-season watermelons and cantaloupes. The market also offers meat and dairy options, fresh eggs and variety of sauces and specialty products from market vendors.
Special Event: Crawfish Day is Saturday. This annual tradition draws a crowd of crustacean lovers, so be sure to get there early to enjoy locally raised crawfish. The event starts at 10 a.m., and last until supplies are gone. Crawfish will be sold for $6 per pound live or $7 per pound cooked with Cajun seasoning. Vendors will be accepting cash only. There is a 5-pound minimum purchase for live crawfish and a pound minimum for cooked crawfish. There also is a 25-pound limit per person. No pre-orders will be accepted.
State Farmers Market, Raleigh – Be on the lookout for beans, berries, cabbage, cantaloupes and cherries. Look for cucumbers, eggplants, peas and tomatoes, too. Corn is in season now too, including Silver Queen, Sweet Ice and Peaches ‘n Cream varieties. Peach varieties include Derby, Spring Prince and Ruby Prince. The market also offers fresh seafood from the coast, locally raised beef, chicken and pork, as well as dairy products.
