. & Kaylee L.
Happy Earth Day to all! What better way to embrace this special day than to support your local farmers’ markets. I personally love shopping these markets, big and small. And I save a great deal of $. When I buy $40 worth of fruit/vegetables/jams/flowers at the farmers’ markets, I would have spent $100 at the grocery store. So I get really excited when Spring rolls around and the local fresh produce is in abundance. The tomatoes alone just get me in the mood for summer – I often eat them like an apple. Nothing like a good ‘ole southern tomato pie!
So my good bud, Kaylee, did a little Smarty research for us and scoped out the markets in our area for your shopping convenience:
Kings Drive Farmers’ Market
Located on the corner of Kings Drive and Morehead Street
Open 7am – 7 pm, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays
They offer a great variety of produce from local farmers, fresh cut flowers, plants, and delicious baked goods. If you time it right, you can even buy fresh shrimp here.
Charlotte Regional Farmers’ Market
1801 Yorkmont Road
Open all year from 8am – 6pm, Tuesday – Saturday
Open May – August from 12:30pm – 6pm Sundays
This is by far the largest market since it’s run by the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. If you are looking for a friendly place to shop for fresh produce, fresh pork products, grass fed beef, goat milk cheese, yummy baked goods, delectable jams and jellies, unique handmade crafts, goat milk soap, beautiful fresh cut flowers and plants of every kind, you can find it all here. The sunflowers are my favorite and they are such a steal!
Mecklenburg County Market
1515 Harding Place (housed behind the Centex complex in a brick building with double white doors)
Open all year from 7am – noon, Wednesday and Saturdays
This is a fabulous family-run market where you can find vegetables of all kinds plus the best homemade vegetable soups in town! You can even sign up for a weekly email to order prepared meals. Some examples of what they are offering this week are: spinach, mushroom, feta quiche, sesame tofu with ginger, sugar peas, carrots and shittakes and tomato and blue cheese soup.
Matthews Community Farmers Market
North Trade Street, Matthews
Open 7:15am – noon, Saturdays
Organic, naturally-owned fruits and vegetables, grass fed beef, soft goat cheese, jams, pottery, baskets and much more are sold here. They represent 70% growers and 30% bakers. Get there early because many items sell out soon after opening.
Huntersville Farmers Market
Main and Maxwell Streets, one block east of Town Hall
Open May 5 – October 27 from 7am – 1pm, Tuesdays and Saturdays
This market is also run by the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. All sellers are required by the town to sell locally-grown produce.
Mint Hill Farmers Market
Carl J. McEwen Historic Village (at the Mint Hill Historical Society)
Open May – September, 9am – 1pm, Saturdays
Does anyone know of any other markets or have inside tips on the ones listed? Please let us know!
5 comments
Up on the ‘west’ side of the lake – the Denver farmers market at Rock Springs elementary opens May 3 – can’t wait!!! (Lincoln county)…
Davidson is also starting a Farmer’s Market this year. It starts on the 2nd of May. This is a local market in that everything is grown locally. There are several vendors at the Charlotte Regional Market that don’t sell only local products. This is important to note if you are trying to reduce your carbon footprint.
On the Corner of Providence rd. and Ballentyne there is a produce stand that is awesome!
Davidson’s new Farmer’s Market begins on May 3 from 8am to noon. Here’s the link to their website.http://www.davidsonfarmersmarket.org/–Jennifer Linsenmayer
The Tailgate Market that was new last year over beside Common Market (Plaza Midwood area) is moving the SouthEnd. The Tailgate is moving from its beloved first location to our new home in Historic South End at 100 West Park Avenue. On April 26th, 2008 we will reopen at the corner of Camden Road and West Park Avenue with more space, more vendors, and more opportunities to serve you.