What’s been going on!

A really pleasant event last evening at the Carrboro Market’s Harvest Dinner.  Perfect weather to go with good dishes from the twenty plus chefs that shop at and support the market.  The setting under the market pavilions is always beautiful and the assembled crowd of market customers and supporters has that real feel of community.

The Harvest Dinner is both a celebration of the season and the market but also a fundraiser to help extend the markets budget so that we can increase our outreach to many groups in the Carrboro and Chapel Hill area.  Food access programs, kids cooking classes, working with local businesses, farm and food education events of all kinds are examples of the forward thinking that has made the Carrboro Farmers’ Market the leader and innovator in local markets and one of the best in the country.  It is why it is the areas epicenter of the local, sustainable food movement.

While something like 90 percent of the markets budget is from stall rental fees from the vendors and market has been self-supporting for all of its 37 years, fees can only go so far.  We have never wanted to rely on grants, as many non-profits do, so events like the Harvest Dinner and the new Market Perennial Program help us to continue our forward momentum.  Just like WUNC’s Sustainer program you can sign up for a regular donation to the market.  Betsy and I are also “Perennials”, as are a number of other vendors and community members and even though we pay our share of stall fees, we know that the market has been the single most important part of our business for the last 30 years.  Even on a farmers budget we know that we need to contribute to the market as it has contributed to us for so long.

Picture of the Week

It is all about Red Bells right now

What’s going to be at the market?

So the flower department is down to the Celosia festival the wild felt like Crested Celosia’s are still plentiful, a bit of Plume Celosia also this week but it will be the last.  A few Tuberoses.  Hydrangeas for drying.

We will be back roasting this week, the equipment issues that shut us down last Saturday have been fixed.  We apologize to those folks that couldn’t get their peppers roasted.  A ton of Colored Bells, especially Reds.  A good supply of Corno di Toros and a few Cubanelles in sweet peppers. Still a bit light on Anaheims and Poblanos this week.   Passillas, Jalapenos, Serranos, Cayennes, Picante Pimento in hots.  Shishitos and  Padrons for appetizers and other uses along and the Aji Dulces, the habanero without heat.

Ginger is back and it looks great!  A bit of Tumeric too.  More Japanese salad Turnips.  A bit of Cilantro.  Green Onions.  Yukina Savoy, a good fall green.  Spaghetti and Acorn Squash.  Eggplant both the striped Nubia and the heirloom Italian variety.

As a reminder if there is anything that you would like for us to hold for you at market just let us know by e-mail, by the evening before, and we will be glad to put it aside for you.

Hope to see you all at the market!

Alex, Betsy and Jennie

If you know folks who you think would be interested in news of the farm then please feel free to forward this to them and encourage them to sign up at the website.