We’ve lived here in NC for about 3 years now but today is the only time I was able to visit the Farmer’s Market in Raleigh. I actually didn’t know about it until a few days ago when my husband informed me of the advertisement on the local news. So we got up early today and headed out to get some fresh produce and meat. I should tell you that the most intriguing part of my week happened after my husband told me about rabbit meat at the Farmer’s Market. I haven’t stopped thinking about it until we got to …read more

Yesterday we stopped off at our local Farmer’s Market and had a ton of fun. The kids have never been to one of these, I did once when I was in my early twenties but I’ve never lived near an area that did it ever since that time. So hearing they had one in town until the end of May meant we had to at least check it out. I imagined all those fresh fruits and veggies but didn’t expect everything.
When we told the kids where we were going we were asked questions such as:
“Will we see cows? What about …read more

It’s definitely salad season. Sure, I love a salad all year ’round, but this is the time of year when the Farmer’s Market is full of fresh from the Earth produce. Do you know how to keep your produce the freshest? 

Here are a few tips:
*I purchase bags of loose leaf lettuce at the Farmer’s Market, but when I’m at the store, I go for hearts of romaine. I move the plastic to the side, because I want to chose the romaine with the least amount of “rustiness” at the core. Heads of lettuce will last longer than a bag of …read more

The best thing about warmer weather in Birmingham is that Pepper Place Farmers Market opens. We go every Saturday we’re in town, and this weekend was no exception.

The market just opened for the season. Years ago we were just one of a few folks who headed out there every Saturday, but it’s since become hugely popular here. Which is a good thing for the farmers.
 
Today we bought a bunch of strawberries, because Truman would choose to eat strawberries over any other food on earth. We also bought tomatoes from one of the few vendors who had ripe ones to choose from. …read more

I love shopping at farmer’s markets during the summer. Starting in the early spring with greens, green onions, Spring flowers, and other early season goodness. I get excited when the farmers markets start featuring local fruits and vegetables. There’s no better flavor than a local grown strawberry, or melon. Don’t even get me started on how awesome a locally grown tomato can taste.
Through the summer I grow quite a bit of my own produce, but what I don’t grow I try to find at my local farmers markets, or street side produce stands for several reasons.

It’s usually cheaper than supermarket …read more

If you follow me on Twitter, then you know from my TwitPic that Sunday I was making Old School Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya from the new cookbook Real Cajun by Donald Link. It was fabulous, by the way. Worth every second of standing by the skillet while I deglazed and deglazed and deglazed.
I think cool, rainy, lazy Sundays call for slow-cooked and fussy meals. Warm, sunny days, of course, demand something grilled. And once Pepper Place farmers market opens here, we’ll have locally grown fresh vegetables all weekend long. (Last year I did a Summer Soup Series with a new …read more

You may already use plastic bags to take your lunch or to line trash cans, but have you considered collecting bags for reuse at your local farmer’s market? You can help farmers avoid the overhead of buying paper or plastic bags by giving them bags you’ve collected. Or you can just simply take your own bags to help save a bag.

I use cloth reusable shopping bags, but sometimes I forget them. Also, some grocery store baggers are determined that certain items need to go in plastic bags, even inside my cloth bags. So, even though I take my own bags …read more

When I lived in Humboldt, the local farmers’ market was where I got almost all our produce. It was close, mostly organic, fresh, and a good value. On some days I felt like lingering, but others my main goal was to get my produce and get out. You can’t always spend every Saturday at the market.

To organize your farmers’ market trips, and save time, try the following: 
Choose one farmers’ market and stick to it. If you’re making tons of trips to various markets, you’re not saving time, or money considering gas. If your city has plenty to choose from, find …read more