The North Carolina Farmer's Market

I am getting ready for the return of Grocery Bag on Monday.  Four weeks off, and I am craving the stability of the meal plan.

As we re-build our fridge and pantry her in North Carolina, we have been going in search of local farmer's markets.

We have found one so far and look forward to discovering more.  

The markets are a great way to get to know regional produce.  

T and I already noticed differences in the offerings.  

Apples in August?  

Cider from peaches?  

Greens called collard?  

Okra, not zucchini?  

It's fun to notice the differences.  

I am excited to try new things and enjoy a few month's difference in the availability.  

Our first trip to the market, and our bags were overflowing with:

honey

peach cider

 pastured pork tenderloin

pastured pork sausage

grass-fed ground beef

cage free eggs

honey crisp apples (made me feel right at home, just a few months early)

peaches

strawberry preserves

We had to pace ourselves.

The kids could hardly wait to get into the car to eat one of the apples.  As soon as they were buckled in, 

they shared one

right across the back seat.

Now that is something to sink your teeth into :)

This week we'll try the veggies and the strawberry cider.  We'll definitely repeat the apples, because word has it they will be gone by September.  Sniff.  

Grocery bag, here we come.

Summer Fun: Farmers Market

If you haven't been already, this is the time.  

Quit your grocery store produce section and go to your farmers market.

I am a farmers market fanatic.  I kinda want to live on a farm right now.  And this weekend I found another favorite farmers market to add to my already long list of Minnesota favorites (you can see a list of all my favorites and more links on the "summer fun" page.  Heaven help us if there aren't farmers markets in Winston-Salem next year.  Oh wait, I just checked.  I think there is one.  Whew.  You can all stop holding your breath.  

But this weekend, we found the Mill City Farmers Market for the first time.  To die for. Its in the shadow of the Guthrie Theater, next to the Mill City Museum, and we walked:

All local farmers and small businesses:

Everything from handmade rugs to my new favorite skirts from Sassy Knitwear,

And, I found a new farm selling free-range chickens for less than the farm I had been buying from previously.  If I tell you their name, you might buy them all before I get some next weekend. 

 Just kidding, its called Sunshine Harvest Farms.  I can't wait to get more chickens.

The reason my salads are looking better these days?  Need you ask?

Here is a great guide to buying local, seasonal produce in Minnesota.  It can help you plan your meals and market trips:

Check out all the great Minnesota Farmers Markets at Minnesotagrown.com.  We love them.  You will too.