October 20, 2009 | Story by: Matt Young | Categories: Agriculture, Food, Go Local, Shop & Dine
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
