Cary, NC – Saturday was blazingly sunny in Cary, North Carolina. I pulled out the camera for the opening of Cary’s two farmers markets and the first-ever Easter Bonnet Festival at Waverly Place.

Western Wake Farmers Market Opens

Big crowds and lots of vendors heralded the opening of the Western Wake Farmers Market in Carpenter Village on Saturday.

People were fairly streaming out of the surrounding neighborhood at 9:30 in the morning.

The first attraction was an exhibition of chickens. Live ones, not the kind on a plate. If you are a chicken devotee (in the backyard or on the plate), considering buying a CaryCitizen Chicken t-shirt.

Within the market itself, there was a stupendous assortment of things to buy – fruit, vegetables, bread, cheese, meat, plants, flowers, soaps, even dog treats. I bought locally grown honey for my 12 year old who has pollen allergies.

As I left WWFM, there was a low-key Easter Egg Hunt. A few dozen kids all rushed onto the field, then just kind of moseyed around searching for eggs. It was a nice change from the massive crowds that turn out for the Town’s hunt in Bond Park.

Downtown Cary Farmers Market Opens

Also on Saturday morning, I visited the return of the Downtown Cary Farmers Market.

This year, the market has a new home on Academy Street in from of the Carying Place, diagonally across from First Baptist Church.

Fresh strawberries were seeing brisk sales. Lettuce was in season and japanese maples were on offer. The Heart of Cary Association had a booth and so did the Downtown Cary Childrens Museum.

Waverly’s Easter Bonnet Festival

My final stop on Saturday was the first ever Easter Bonnet and Hat Festival at Waverly Place.

The Easter bunny was there and lots of kids and adults all dressed up in their Easter finery. A DJ was rocking the Promenade and Waverly merchants were handing out tasty treats and samples.

It was a good Saturday in Cary.

The CaryCitizen Calendar of Events is edited by Lindsey Chester. Photo by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, N.C. – Warm weather is here and our local farmers markets are all set to hold grand openings this Saturday, April 7. You’ll find locally grown produce, meat and seafood along with a healthy portion of entertainment.

Cary Downtown Farmer’s Market- New Location

The Cary Downtown Farmer’s Market returns this year to the Heart of Cary with its new location at the corner of Academy and Park in downtown Cary. For several years the market was forced to locate up the road in Chatham Square Shopping, during the Cary Train Depot renovations. This resulted in poor visibility and reduced attendance.

Manager Michele Blackley says Downtown Development Manager Ed Gawf will officially open the market on Saturday.  Live music from Paula Snyder is planned for the opening. Phil Shepherd is heading up entertainment, with the use of the Town of Cary’s portable stage, this summer will feature an assortment of bands and other performing arts.

The market will be giving away new market bags to the first 25 visitors on Saturday, and then the bags will be for sale. Twenty four vendors have signed on to be a part of the downtown market, the space can accommodate up to 29. Included in the mix is  mushroom grower, herbs and perennials, produce (9 vendors) as well as some crafters, candle sellers and three bakers (one of whom is offering gluten-free products!).

Western Wake Farmer’s Market- staying in current location for now

The Western Wake Farmer’s Market is still at the old location on Morrisville Carpenter Road in Cary within the Carpenter Village subdivision. Over the winter, there were talks of a move, but so far, they are holding steady in their current location.

Opening day at the WWFM will be  “Egg ” themed and includes an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids.

Whole Foods Market of Cary will be on hand to celebrate the season opening with recipes featuring local eggs and produce from market vendors.  Market goers are encouraged to stop by the Education Tent for a sample. Stevan Jackson will be in the Music Tent with lively farmers’ market melodies.

Throughout April, WWFM will host a wide variety of educators and musicians. Educators include Advocates for Health in Action (April 14), North Carolina 10% Campaign and the Cary Dinner Fairy (April 21) and Chef Scott Crawford of Herons Restaurant at The Umstead Hotel and Spa (April 28). Market shoppers will be entertained by the musical styling of Andrew Robbins (April 14), Kyle Scobie (April 21) and CityFolk (April 28).

The WWFM is open year-round, rain or shine, to provide area residents with access to locally grown and crafted foods.  Market offerings include fresh seasonal produce, flowers, herbs, baked goods, eggs, cheese, meats and seafood, as well as coffee, tea, local honey, hand-crafted soaps and more.

Tuesdays coming soon: Tuesday market will commence Tuesday, May 1, 2012 3:30PM – 6:30PM (May through September).

DJ’s Berry Patch- not just berries!

DJ’s is known for their fabulous Pick-Your- Own strawberries and pumpkins, the Jones family also runs a great little farm stand down on Davis Drive near Salem Baptist Church. They should be picking berries soon (mid-April) and will begin selling produce again. Official opening date is not yet set for this stand- all depends on how soon the berries start coming in!

More Weekend Events

Find more weekend events on the Calendar.

Story from staff reports. Photo by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – The Western Wake Farmer’s Market (WWFM) is holding a special market on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 for your Thanksgiving meal this year.

Special Farmers Market on Tuesday Nov 22

WWFM has joined up with five Triangle area farmers’ markets. The Carrboro Farmers’ Market, Durham Farmers’ Market, Eno River Farmers’ Market in Hillsborough, S. Estes Farmers’ Market in Chapel Hill and the WWFM in Cary are all hosting holiday markets on Tuesday November 22 to provide shoppers with the freshest, locally and sustainably grown foods available.

The WWFM in Cary will be open from 3-6 pm.

“We are very excited to partner with some of our sister markets in the area for the second year in a row to promote shopping locally during the holidays,” says Sarah Blacklin, Market Manager for the Carrboro Farmers Market, “To show our appreciation, each of our area Markets will be offering a lucky customer a gift basket featuring specialty items collected from each of the 5 Markets.  It’s our way of saying thank you to all our customers who commit to buying local during the holidays and support our local food community in the Triangle.”

The 10% Campaign

The markets support a movement called the NC 10% Campaign. People can help to build North Carolina’s local economy by spending 10% of their existing food dollars on locally produced foods. Learn more about this Center for Environmental Farm Systems initiative at www.nc10percent.com.

All five of the participating markets are grower only/producer only markets. This means that all the foods are grown by area farmers and all the crafts made by local artisans. Each market supports local, sustainable agriculture and provides the Triangle with access to healthy, local, sustainably grown and produced foods.

Check out their collective website  as a resource for a local Thanksgiving, complete with details on each of the markets’ hours, offerings, special events, and recipes.

WWFM Hours For Thanksgiving Shopping
Tues Nov 22 – Pre-Thanksgiving Market hours: 3-6pm
Saturday Market will be CLOSED Saturday, November 26th following Thanksgiving

WWFM is in its third season in Cary at Carpenter Village Marketplace (1225 Morrisvile Carpenter Rd.), and is open year-round on Saturdays. The market is open from 8 am-12 pm April-November and 10 am-12 pm December-March, rain or shine.

The market’s mission is for all people in the community to become educated about and benefit from locally grown food.

The CaryCitizen Calendar of Events is edited by Lindsey Chester. Photo by Hal Goodtree. 

Cary, NC – The weekend after Halloween is usually a slow one on the Calendar, but not this year in Cary. There’s a free flu clinic by Cary EMS, a new play by FATE and a local crafts fair at the farmers market.

Saturday Morning: Free Flu Clinic

Cary Area Emergency Medical Services will be offering a free flu clinic Saturday, November 5, 2011 to the public starting at 8:00 am and until the vaccine is no longer available. You must be 4 years old and above to receive the vaccine. The clinic will be at Cary Area EMS, 107 Medcon Court just north of the intersection of Maynard Road and Kildaire Farm Road.

Please park in the rear of Terry Floor Fashions.

Friday & Saturday Night: Our Lady of 121st Street

A new production from FATE Ensemble Theater. Witness the struggle and journey of friends returning home to honor their Sister Rose, as they learn how to reconcile their past with their present, through lies, loss, and love. For reservations, email FATEreservations@gmail.com.

Saturday Morning: Local Crafts Fair

The Fall Craft Fair at the Western Wake Farmers Market features 50 local artists’ hand-crafted works, including pottery, jewelry, holiday décor and gifts, stoneware, baby and children’s gifts, birdhouses, hand-knitted and felted accessories, glassware, natural soaps and lotions, and much more. All artists live and produce their works within 125 miles of the marketplace.

Saturday morning 8 am to 12 pm. Western Wake Farmer’s Market, 1225 Morrisville Carpenter Rd.

More Weekend Events

As always, more info and weekend events on the Cary Calendar.

Story by Lindsey Chester. Photo by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC- Time is running out on the land used for the current Western Wake Farmer’s Market (WWFM) located in Carpenter Village. And the group has plans for a move.

The current market location is in the vacant parking area on Morrisville Carpenter Road in the Carpenter Village subdivision. With the housing market beginning a recovery, the land will be cleared soon for new housing. WWFM hopes they can find at least a temporary home before March when their lease expires.

Temporary Home Needed for WWFM

The group has begun to draw up plans for an agricultural park, which will include a new permanent farmer’s market, education facility and parkland. These plans are long range. What is needed now is an immediate location for next Spring’s market. Even if the town OKs the move to the AM Howard Farm now, the permitting, clearing and grading necessary will take longer than eight months. They hope to find a temporary location that does not require development to enable hosting the market tents and vendors.

Long Range Plans

The WWFM  made a presentation to Town of Cary Parks director Danny Hopkins in November of 2010 that outlines their plans for an Agricultural Learning Center on the A M Howard farmland currently owned by the Town. Market managers hope Town Council will accept their request to turn the vacant farmland into a park that pays tribute to Cary’s deep rooted agricultural history and local food movement of today.

Kevin Gordon, Operations Manager, told me the “next  step is to demonstrate public support” for the project concept.The market’s own business plan shows how they have grown in the three years, both in revenue and number and diversity of vendors. They currently offer an educational component to the market every Saturday morning.

A.M. Howard Farm

In 2007, the Town of Cary purchased the 45-acre A.M. Howard farm and the adjoining historical structures to protect Cary’s agricultural history from urban development. It currently sits unused by the Town. With the Town of Cary in the midst of revamping its Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Master Plan as well as the Public Art Master Plan,  timing is good to make a proposal for the undeveloped park.

“We started this market to ensure the vitality of our community, and this venture only furthers our mission to bring fresh local food to those who live here. Cary has really embraced the WWFM, and we’re thrilled with how quickly it’s grown. We want to continue that momentum and create a space where people can connect with their natural environment, grow their own food or learn about North Carolina’s agriculture,” said Juliann Zoetmulder, president of the WWFM board of directors.

The Importance of a Farmers Market

The farmers’ market features local seasonal produce, along with hormone-free, grass-fed meats, local seafood, cheese, baked goods, coffee, flowers and more. The market was founded three years ago by a group of Wake County moms and has grown considerably since.

Their mission is for all people in the community to become educated about and benefit from locally grown food. They are the first market in Wake County to accept the EBT food stamp debit cards. They also donate to the NC Food Bank.

The WWFM board knows that their customers depend on them. They also understand that when they move it will need to be relatively close to the current location- their clients and vendors depend on them.

If you know of a possible temporary location (shopping center parking lot, school field or other) where the market could move, contact Kevin or Julianne directly.

Cary, NC – On September 25th from 8 am to noon, farmers markets and community volunteers from across the Triangle (Cary, Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Durham) are joining together to hold a “Farmer Foodshare Challenge” – a one-day effort to raise as much locally grown NC produce as possible for the neediest in our communities.

The farmers and shoppers of these markets have already raised over 15,000 pounds of fresh food during the year to date as part of their Farmer Foodshare programs. At the Western Wake Farmers’ Market here in Cary, more than 2,600 pounds of food have been collected and donated since April.

Where:

The Triangle Farmer Foodshare Challenge—a one-day effort to raise over 4,000 pounds of local food for hungry people in the Triangle. The Carrboro Farmers’ Market, Durham Farmers’ Market, S. Estes Farmers’ Market in Chapel Hill and the Western Wake Farmers’ Market (WWFM) in Cary are joining together in this effort to provide fresh, local food for the food insecure in the Triangle and to help support area farmers.

Each market hopes to collect 1,000 pounds of food and will sponsor a Farmer Foodshare Donation Station where shoppers can stop by and donate either cash to buy food from the farmers or buy their own farm fresh food and donate it directly. There will be activities for kids, locally grown seasonal produce, grass-fed meats, eggs, artisanal pastries, breads and desserts, and lots of fun for all.

Anyone who cannot shop the markets on Sept. 25 is invited to donate online at The Abundance Foundation’s web site,  and volunteers will buy market foods for the Challenge with donated funds.

More Stuff Happening in Cary

For more things happening in Cary, visit the Calendar.

Cary, N.C. – There are a lot more hungry families in Cary and vicinity than you may think. In June, 2,737 new applications were submitted for FNS benefits.

EBT Cards

Now people in Wake County receiving food assistance have a new way to buy healthy, local foods for their families: they can swipe their EBT cards at the Western Wake Farmers’ Market (WWFM) here in Cary. They receive tokens, which do not expire, to shop with participating vendors.

WWFM is the only farmers’ market in Wake County now participating in the 21st Century Farmers Market Program, administered through the Leaflight Foundation, according to a WWFM spokesperson. A grant from the John Rex Endowment enables WWFM to offer the Market Match, where EBT shoppers can buy $20 worth of food for just $10 swiped on their EBT card.

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.

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.