One of my childhood memories is waking up at my Grandma's home and seeing her in the garden. She was not a farmer to earn a living, but her hard work provided some of the best veggies I had ever tasted for lunch and dinner.
I live less than two miles from North Carolina's State Farmer's Market in Raleigh. I also belong to Papa Spud's, where I can get produce from the farms straight to my door when I order. This is the time of year when I begin ordering and buying more produce. I buy from several stands when I visit the NC State Farmer's Market because each farmer's crop is different. In the next few weeks, I'll work to share some of my favorites.
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My grandmother grew corn, turnips, collards, strawberries, butter beans, new potatoes, and green beans. They also had grapes. She would cook fresh vegetables every day for a lunch buffet. She kept me while my Mom worked when I was little, and I developed a palate for fresh vegetables at a very early age. I would sit before the Price is Right with a TV stand and dine on a smorgasbord of fresh veggies from the garden.
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I even helped her snap beans and shell peas.
North Carolina has tons of pollen this time of year, but it also means that the gardens are ready for harvest. Below are some of the vegetables peaking this time of year.
Green Onions: Late March
Asparagus: Early April
Strawberries: Early/mid-April
Arugula: Late April
Lettuces: Late April
Radishes: Late April
Peas: Late April
Bok Choy: Early May
Salad Mix: Early May
Blueberries: Mid May
Chard, Rainbow: Mid May
Salad Turnips: Mid-May
Snap Peas: Mid May
New Potatoes: Mid-May
Broccoli: Late May
Squash, Yellow: Late May
Squash, Zucchini: Late May
NC State Farmer's Market
The State Farmers Market is located at the corner of Lake Wheeler Road and Centennial Parkway, and it has easy access from I-40 in Raleigh, N.C. From I-40, take Exit 297 to Lake Wheeler Road. Head northeast on Lake Wheeler Road. The market is located on the left, approximately 0.5 miles. The market is open daily.
NC FARM APP and Farmer Market Listings
I am fortunate to live in North Carolina because it is a thriving agricultural state. Very few farms remain inside Raleigh's city limits, so most of our fresh produce comes from rural Wake County and surrounding counties such as Johnston, Harnett, Nash, Edgecombe, and Wilson Counties.
Visit Raleigh keeps an ongoing list of Farmer's Markets in the area, and Visit NC keeps a statewide market list. North Carolina also has an NC Farm App for download on Apple/Android. It lists farms and restaurants that use farm-fresh produce. It's a must to get the alls-star NC foodie experience.
Updated April 1, 2024
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