The State Farmers Market’s Fall Craft Fair is going on this weekend: Friday through Sunday, Nov.13th,14th,15th from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
There will be hundreds of handmade craft items such as pottery, jewlelry, candles, woodworking, quilted items, birdhouses, floral arrangements, baskets, and so much more!
It is a perfect time to start your holiday shopping with all the unique handcrafted items to choose from!
Admission is free and there’s plenty of parking.
Where I grew up, there was no streak of lean biscuits. When a man I worked for who grew up in Pender County described it, I wasn’t sure folks would actually eat a biscuit with a gob of collards and fatback in it. He took me to Big Eds in City Market, ordered us a biscuit each and we ate them.
If you are ready for a biscuit, you are in luck because November 6 is Collard Day at the State Farmers Market in Raleigh. Vendors will have fresh, locally grown collard greens for sale along with all the fixings, including a variety of relishes, salsas and chow-chows. The State Farmers Market Restaurant will provide freshly cooked collard samples and hushpuppies, along with recipes, serving tips and nutritional information.
Collards Day will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the market’s Farmers Building. If you can’t make it out, the NCDA marketing division has a listing of North Carolina growers and shippers that offer collards directly to consumers
Apple Day will be celebrated at the State Farmers Market in Raleigh 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Thursday September 24.
There will be free Apple Dessert samples, free recipes and free NC Apple Facts.
The Apple Day Celebration will be sponsored by the NC Apple Growers Association, State Farmers Market Restaurant, State Farmers Market and the NC Department of Agriculture.
The NC State Farmers Market will celebrate Sweet Potato Day on Thursday, Sept. 17. The event is set for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
There will be free sweet potato dessert samples, recipes and health information.
The celebration is sponsored by the NC Sweet Potato Commission and the State Famers Market Restaurant.
Raleigh Italian restaurant 518 West executive chef Blaine Niermanis featured in a video on the restaurant’s blog talking about getting fresh produce from the State Farmers Market.
Niermanis explains what types of foods he looks for, how he incorporates N.C. produce into the 518 West menu and the advantages of cooking with food picked by farmers that very same morning.
Posted in Farmers Markets, Raleigh Restaurants
Tagged 518 West, food, local produce, State Farmers Market
Larry Boyette of Kenley took top honors in Watermelon Day celebrations at the State Farmers Market in Raleigh. Kenley had the biggest watermelon among 11 entered in the day’s competition and took him the $600 first place money. How big was it? 203 pounds.
Photo courtesy of NCDA
Boyette was called an “up-and-comer on the giant watermelon scene” last year by Carolina Country magazine after he took home first place in the State Farmers Market’s 2008 competition and won the blue ribbon at the 2007 N.C. State Fair. You can check out his insider tips on growing giant watermelon in Carolina Country’s ‘Giant Watermelon’ feature from May 2008.
Other top finishers in the competition include:
There was $400 for second, $300 for third and $200 for fourth place.
Watermelon Day Escapes Cancellation – News and Observer
The State Farmers Market’s will mark Watermelon Day on Thursday, August 6, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Visitors to the farmers market will be able to sample fresh watermelon, pick up recipes and meet the N.C. Watermelon Queen Kensley Leonard.
The weigh-in for the state’s largest watermelon starts at noon in the Farmers Building, with cash prizes awarded to the top four fruits, including $600 for first, $400 for second, $300 for third and $200 for fourth place.
All entries must be grown in North Carolina, and growers must be able to identify what area each watermelon is from.
If you pick up some melons, here are some tips for selecting the very best melon:
The State Farmers Market in Raleigh continues to draw rave reviews in the Local Harvest Farmers Market Contest. Here’s what some folks are saying about their visit:
Kathleen M. – I have spent endless Sundays roaming the State Farmers Market with my dad, carefully picking out our family dinner. The friendliness of the locals, the quality of the selections and the sense of tradition the farmers market brings cannot be beat.
Anthony M. – Great local produce at great values! It is one of the best Farmers Markets I’ve been to in the country.
Paul J. – The State Farmers Market has an amazing assortment of produce, flowers, cheeses and meats, and you can’t forget the restaurants and shops. You can spend an entire weekend here.
Kat T. – Friendly & extremely helpful & knowledge growers, great prices, excellent selections & varieties of veggies, fruits, trees, shrubs, plants, herbs, meats & fish, snacks, home-canned items, fresh fish market & restaurant, nursery & garden shop, & so much more!!!
Susan M. – Nothing like this in Maryland(where I currently live). Every time I come down to visit family, we try to stop in for whatever looks yummy! We now bring a cooler each trip to bring back our finds. What a great selection of fresh produce and food!!!
You can find more comments on the Local Harvest website and see recent photos here.
My wife and I made a trip to the State Farmers Market in Raleigh Saturday afternoon. It was busy and with good reason.
Several vendors were selling peaches. As you can see, moms were sharing peach samples with their children.
While blueberries are nearing the end of season, several vendors had them.
They were selling for $3 pint, or two pints for $5. Vendors said the blueberries may be available for one more weekend.
One vendor had driven his pick up into his space and had the truck bed filled with corn.
Along with the silver queen corn, there were lots of juicy red and ready to eat tomatoes.
While watermelon day at the farmers market doesn’t arrive until August, there are plenty to choose from.
I just sampled the watermelon we bought before I sat down to write this and I can tell you its delicious. We paid $5 for a sweet, seedless watermelon.
We ran into the folks from the Chelsea Cafe on Slater Road in RTP at the Market. They were picking up some food. My wife says they have the best BLT sandwich and always have the best tomatoes on it.
Peach Day is Thursday, July 23 at the State Farmers Market in Raleigh.
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., there will be free Peach Ice Cream samples, an appearance by the NC Peach Queen and you’ll be able to pick up free recipes and information on peaches.
The State Farmers Market will also hold its Peach Dessert Contest. There’s an adult and children’s category. The competition requires two cups of NC peaches be used in the dessert. The desserts must be delivered to the State Farmers Market between 8 and 10 a.m., July 23. The judging begins at 10 a.m. First place receives $75. The official rules are here.
