Matt Mitchener
It’s early morning at the State Farmer’s Market.
Vendors monitor their compact booths, stacking and restacking their products. Every few minutes someone yells out, “Fresh asparagus, sweet potatoes, collards!” Buyers wander slowly by stacks of tomatoes, onions and peaches and shuffle through the rows of vegetable plants and herbs.
Sellers distribute samples of goat cheese and honey to passers-by, frequently asking, “What do you think?”
All are here for one purpose: to promote and enjoy the fruits (and vegetables) of North Carolina agriculture.
The State Farmer’s Market is a marriage of old and new. Much of the market is open air, harking back to the days when visiting the market was an everyday necessity.
However, the facility itself is decidedly modern, with shady, steel-built interiors, an ATM (many transactions are still cash-only) and two restaurants on site.
The market is located on Centennial Parkway, across the street from Centennial Campus, and is a symbol of North Carolina history and economy. Since its opening, the market has been a primary method for the dozens of local farmers to share their products with the general public.
History and EconomyThe state’s agriculture industry represents 22 percent of North Carolina’s economy, but farmers’ incomes are some of the lowest in the state, according to the N.C. Department of Agriculture. In the last 150 years, the amount of farms in state has decreased by almost one-third, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and recent data from the department shows the numbers of farms and income from agriculture dwindling year by year.
One such change is evident in the tobacco industry. North Carolina depended on tobacco farming, but health concerns have restricted it in recent years. Some farmers left the industry altogether, but many others switched products.
Shawn McLerren, an associate of MAE Farm of Louisburg, which mainly farms hogs, spoke of the change and the economic issues that accompany it.
“[Many] old tobacco farmers have gotten out of the tobacco farming and have gone into hog production,” McLerren said. “It’s becoming more lucrative, but it’s slow.” Ethanol production is on the rise and has created record prices in corn, according to McLerren. Ethanol and other new applications for agricultural products may turn out to be the future of North Carolina farming, but food production is still the heart and soul of many small farms across the state — and they’re ready and willing to provide a variety of produce and products for interested buyers at the Farmer’s Market.
Produce and ProductsIt’s not difficult to support the local agricultural economy — more than 300 different products are offered for sale at any given time. Most of the edible products offered include fresh vegetables and fruits, although homemade baked goods, honey, dairy products,and meats are also available. Joyce Hollowell, a vendor for Britt Farms — which operates out of Mount Olive – said it offers multiple types of produce.
“We have a lot of vegetables,” she said. “We’ve got collards, kale and sweet potatoes. Later on we’re going to have most anything you want — we’ll have a lot of vegetables.”
The summer growing season is nearly here. The coming months will find the market overflowing with strawberries, melons, lettuces and corn from Britt Farms and the dozens of other produce farmers who set up shop there.
Though they are in the minority, animal farmers are on site selling everything from whole pigs and free-range eggs to honey bee products. Little Flying Cows Honey offers candles, lip balms, soaps and honey, all produced at Charles and Nancy Fleckenstein’s Hillsborough farm.
“We have four different kinds of honey, all local,” Paul Fleckenstein, the owners’ son, said.
Interspersed between booths selling fresh produce and animal products are specialty vendors who offer up Grandma’s Coffee Cake, gourmet salsas, rice pilafs and ready-to-bake cake mixes — all homemade.
The FutureToday’s busy lifestyle may make it difficult for some people to make time to search out local produce and products. To become more competitive with one-stop superstores like Wal-Mart, some farmers are looking to evolve.
According to McLerren, farmers and vendors should diversify their products to attract more customers. MAE farm has partnered with Maple View Farms, a dairy producer, and plans on adding beef to their offerings to expand their line of products.
“[One] thing that I think hurts the Farmer’s Market is that people look at it as more of a luxury than a necessity, because they can’t get everything that they can get at the grocery store,” McLerren said. “I think if we can all pull together and start carrying other products … we could probably draw more people in because then they could get everything.”