Eat Local

Fresh locally grown produce in Charlotte North Carolina is in its prime and ripe for the picking. And now with more midweek markets popping up all over town - you don't just have to wait for Saturday morning.
This week look for locally grown cukes and 'maters as well as beans and peas, figs, peppers and eggplant, too. And you can still find local blueberries and peaches, so enjoy!

MARKET TO MARKET
Local farmers from Charlotte and surrounds come to
set up stands every Saturday morning at the Yorkmont
Road Regional Farmers Market, open February-October
8 am-5 pm. The market is also open with commercial
produce, craft and flower vendors weekdays, Tuesday-
Friday, 8am-5 pm and on Sundays from May-August.
For more information visit ncagr.com

The Matthews Community Farmers Market hosts
local farmers with farms within a 50 mile radius of
Matthews. Open from 7:15 am until noon every
Saturday, from mid-April to November. Winter
Market hours are 8-10 am every other Saturday from
December to March. Farmers from the Matthews market also host the Tuesday Morning market at market at Presbyterian Hospital in Matthews from 10 am to 2 pm every Tuesday through the end of the summer. Take advantage of this great opportunity to find mid-week locally grown produce, meats, flowers, baked goods, candies and more.
Watch for signs on the hospital's Matthews Township Parkway campus. For more info and to sign up for the Matthews Market newsletter, visit www.matthewsfarmersmarket.
com

Like the Matthews Market, the Charlotte Tailgate
Market at 100 West Park Avenue, a stones throwaway
From Uptown Charlotte, swears by the mantra that local
food tastes better. Open Saturday mornings and
Tuesday afternoons from mid-April through November,
the Tailgate also sends out a bi-weekly newsletter. For
more info and to get on the tailgates email newsletter list, visit www.charlottetailgatemarket.com.

The Mecklenburg County Market, located at 1515
Harding Place, has been serving the Charlotte area for
more than 60 years. Open Wednesdays and Saturdays
from 7 am to 1 pm, look for fresh grown produce in
season, local crafts and baked goods plus all of Beverly
McLaughlin’s great pre-prepared vegan and vegetarian
soups, entrees and sides. For more information and a
weekly e-newsletter, visit beverlysgourmetfoods.com

The Center City Green Market, at the corner of Trade and Tryon in Uptown Charlotte is open on Saturdays, May through September from 8 am-2 pm. and on weekdays from 11 – 3pm. Local produce is available each weekend
from Unity Farms and Creekside Farms. And on weekdays from a variety of vendors. On Saturday look for the freshest of seafood from Mike LaVecchia’s Seafoods.com. For
more information visit www.centercitygreenmarket.com.

The Kings Drive Farmers' Market is home to pumpkins
and Christmas trees all sold by the Simpson
family of Union County. But from early April to
October, the corner lot at Kings and Morehead in
Midtown Charlotte is home to a variety of locally grown
produce and more. Open Tuesdays and
Fridays, 7 am- 7 pm. Simpsons also provides the produce for the Presbyterian Hospital Farmers Market at 200 Hawthorne Lane in Charlotte’s Historic Elizabeth neighborhood from 11 am to 2pm on Thursday mornings.

On Thursday August 20, I'm excited to be appearing at the weekly farmers' market set up directly in front of Presbyterian Hospital, 200 Hawthorne Lane in Charlotte's historic Elizabeth neighborhood. I will be conducting ongoing cooking demonstrations with quick and easy recipes made from local product and all based on the Mediterranean American Diet plan complete with nutrition facts prepared by the wonderful team of nutritionists at Presby's Novant Heart & Wellness Center. My demonstration - complete with complimentary samples - will be from 11 am to 1:30 pm
Take a break over your lunch hour and stop by for free recipes, tasty samples, a schedule of upcoming cooking classes and more. Hope to see you there!!

The Davidson Farmers Market began as a grassroots effort by several citizens of the college town of Davidson in 2007. The market offers locally
grown fruits and vegetables, meats and cheeses produced
by sustainable or organic methods when
possible. Other agriculturally based products such as
breads, flowers and soaps are also offered from time to
time. Located next to the Davidson Town Hall between
Main and Jackson streets, the Davidson Market is open
from 8 am to noon, Saturdays from May through
November. Winter market dates and times are 9-11 am
every other Saturday. Visit davidsonfarmersmarket.org.

If you would rather the locally grown produce and
product, including beef, pork, chicken and eggs came
to you, then join any one of the local food clubs or
farm co-ops now available to area locavores. Know
Your Farms in Davidson is a great place to start. This
local food club provides individuals and families with
access to locally produced food all year round.
Members place orders for food from participating
farms. The food is collected from the farms and
dropped at central distribution locations for members
to pick up. It really is as simple as that. Pricing includes
the option to go and actually work on a participating
farm one Saturday each quarter. For more information
or to sign up for membership online visit
knowyourfarms.com.