Farmers Market Update: Charlotte

by Darya Rose | Oct 17, 2010

Charlotte Farmers Market Pumpkins

Pardon the delay in getting this post up today, there was some scheduling confusion. But I’m thrilled to have Stephen Wise share his insights of the farmers market in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Stephen Wise is the creator of TeaHacker.com & founder of Utopian Tea, a modern-style online only tea store. If you’re interested in discovering insights of tea on a molecular level or life hacks for the tea-drinker’s lifestyle, Tea Hacker offers exactly that, as well as tips & experiments geared for healthy living and anyone interested in tea. For more discussion, follow @TeaHacker on Twitter.

Farmers Market Update: Charlotte

by Stephen Wise

Changing seasons is the perfect time to hit up your local farmers market as this is when you’ll come across the latest rewards nature brings us yearly. As you see the leaves changing colors and feel the crisp Autumn air, the tipping point of feeling a connection to the new season is experiencing the flavors of foods you haven’t had in far too many months. Discovering the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market this weekend was the perfect way to actively kick off that Autumn ‘mood’ I get every year, and these local providers went all out with this theme in mind. Arriving at a presentation of hundreds of pumpkins spread across bails of hay, I knew this trip would double as a chance at snagging some great food along with some serious pumpkin hunting.

Autumn Harvest Decorative Baskets

White Mini Pumpkins

Most of the providers seemed to be local families, and they had it all! Next to the pumpkins were varying groups selling home-made pumpkin pies, Autumn corn, colorful giant gourds, and even pumpkin butter. It was fascinating to find out that they would even go out of their way to create a custom Autumn-style decorative art basket made of mini pumpkins, corn, odd shaped gourds, and similar crops (some of which I couldn’t even identify) of your choice. With prices for good-sized pumpkins at just $5, I highly recommend checking your own farmers market if you want to save a great deal of money prepping for jack-o-lanterns this Halloween, as most stand-alone commercialized pumpkin patches hike their prices for decent pumpkins up to $25 for the exact same thing.

Autumn Corn

Homemade Pumpkin Pies

On the other side of the lot, I found things to be compromised of a huge span of general staples from Charlotte and the surrounding area. Of course there was all of the expected fresh greens & fruits of the world, but I couldn’t help but notice there was an abundance of sweet potatoes. Every vendor had their share, it seemed, pricing baskets of nearly a dozen for just $3. Sweet-corn, giant carrots, blackberries, and several types of squash were also found all over. Interestingly enough, goat cheese was also a hit, showing they’ve got diary fans covered as well.

Red Kapps - Autumn Beans

Sweet Potato Baskets

The diversity of the people in charge of their own sections here was incredible. Every nationality & age had a part in coming together to put a ton of effort into making this farmers market a success. This also shown through to the actual product-side of things. I met a woman there who had what seemed like years worth of clothing & hats she knits and sells herself, showing this farmers market definitely welcomes local arts along with food. She explained how she’s only missed two days during the past twenty years of ongoing attendance. Right across from her area, was the vendor with the longest line, Red Kapps, who decided to go all out with the biggest assortment of all kinds of apples I’ve ever seen in one place. Seriously, these guys went crazy with Fuji, Arkansas Black, Red Delicious, Jona Gold apples, and more. Also, they were the only ones to have Autumn beans, which are new to me. Red Kapps has gained a reputation as probably the most friendly and well-rounded farmers here, so be sure to swing by their section, ask what’s new, and they’ll be more than happy to share their latest recipe ideas.

Pumpkin Butter

Knitted Caps

Tips & Insights:

If you want to enjoy the full potential of Charlotte’s Regional Farmer’s Market, be sure to arrive early. Market opens at 8am, but shopping starts taking place moments before. Fresh eggs & local meats are the first to go, and I heard rumor of ‘The Mushroom Dude’ who sells exactly what his name suggests, and apparently sells out fast. I arrived later, and was told I had just missed him.
Some vendors accept credit card, but remember to bring cash. If you decide to use credit card, just be aware that they usually have a $10 minimum here.
Ask questions & look at labels. If you’re looking for local goods, keep your guard up. Some of the vendors here are obviously resellers, selling crops shipped in from thousands of miles away or from Harris Teeter distribution plants. I was told that if you go during the weekdays, the market is slower and a lot of what you’ll see are basically resellers. You can recognize many local farms by Slow Food Charlotte giving them banners that say NC Farmer or SC Farmer, or just ask them.
Need to buy flowers? This is the place to do it, with incredible looking fresh bouquets of flowers for just $10! The flower selection during Spring months is said to be the most impressive.
If you’re curious about some kind of food, some farmers will go ahead and let you try a sample. Just be sure to ask, first.

Today’s Purchases: