The Winter Market season is upon us! Collard greens, sweet potatoes, cabbage, kale and spinach are just a few of the nutritious veggies that can be found at the market every Saturday from 10 am-Noon. Not only do all of these veggies grow no more than 70 miles away from Durham Central Park, but they are also nature’s way of providing our bodies with the nutrients it needs to fight typical cold weather illnesses. Round out your shopping trip with local meats, cheese, fresh bread and so much more, including locally made chocolate!
As a reminder, the Durham Farmers’ Market Food Programs run throughout the entire year! We accept SNAP and offer cash matching for customers that participate in SNAP or WIC. And don’t forget about the Double Bucks program, which matches SNAP and cash matching transactions up to $10. Want to learn more? The Durham Farmers’ Market Food Programs were recently featured on Healthy Durham 20/20’s website.
Finally, don’t forget to look for vendors in their Winter Market locations. Swing by the Info Table if you’re having trouble finding a specific vendor.
It’s a common misconception that fresh produce does not thrive in the Piedmont during the Winter. The reality is that tasty, fresh veggies grow during our cold months. Collard greens, sweet potatoes, cabbage, kale and spinach are just a few of the nutritious veggies that can be found at the Winter Market every Saturday from 10 am-Noon. Not only do all of these veggies grow no more than 70 miles away from Durham Central Park, but they are also nature’s way of providing our bodies with the nutrients it needs to fight typical cold weather illnesses. Round out your shopping trip with local meats, cheese, fresh bread and so much more, including locally made chocolate!
As a reminder, the Durham Farmers’ Market Food Programs run throughout the entire year! We accept SNAP and offer cash matching for customers that participate in SNAP or WIC. And don’t forget about the Double Bucks program, which matches SNAP and cash matching transactions up to $10. Want to learn more? The Durham Farmers’ Market Food Programs were recently featured on Healthy Durham 20/20’s website.
We’re lucky to live in a region where we don’t have to stray too far from the traditional Thanksgiving dishes in order to use local, seasonal produce. Let’s talk about what our vendors are selling that could make an appearance on your holiday meal plates.
Considering North Carolina is the top producer of sweet potatoes in the United States, it makes sense to start with these delicious veggies. You can make both sweet potato casserole and mashed potatoes from your next market purchases. It’s easy to get excited about these rich, buttery dishes but don’t forget to eat your greens, which may be the hardest decision because there are so many kinds to choose from. Tomorrow you will come across bok choy, mustard greens, collard greens, kale, chard, spinach, and a variety of lettuces. Cook chard down with garlic or compete for the most vibrant salad on the block. Although it’s not a usual suspect, cabbage tastes great with any dressing and provides extra crunch, too. If you really want to cook outside of the box, cabbage stuffed with rice or meat will surely impress your family. While most of us will opt for a turkey, there is no shortage of sausage and other pasture-raised meats at the market. Last but not least, there is plenty of squash, pumpkin and other members of the gourd family. A classic pumpkin soup will pair well with anything on the table, otherwise toss any squash into the oven for an easy side dish. See how seasonal you can be this year and let us know how it goes!
We look forward to seeing you tomorrow for our special market.
And don’t forget we are closed on Saturday, November 24 and will re-open with our winter hours on Saturday, December 1 from 10 am-noon.
From all of us at the Durham Farmers’ Market, we are incredibly grateful for YOU and we wish you and your family a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!
Who will be at the market tomorrow?
Below is a list of confirmed vendors and there will probably be a few more additions. Be sure to swing by the market from 3-5 pm and pick up the best produce, meat, cheese, bread, pastries, flowers and more!
As we reflect on another season at the market, our staff, volunteers and vendors are so grateful to the dedicated customers who make time for the market in their busy schedules and eat local year-round. We cannot thank you enough for your support this season and for making our Saturday mornings so much fun! We hope you find everything you need to cook your family and friends a perfect Thanksgiving meal at the market tomorrow.
As a reminder, we’ll host our annual Pre-Thanksgiving Holiday Market on Tuesday, November 20 from 3:00-5:00 pm. We’ll be closed on Saturday, November 24 so that our vendors can enjoy time with their loved ones. Then we’ll be back to kickoff the Saturday Winter Market on December 1 from 10:00 am-12:00 pm.
Finally, we want to give a big THANK YOU to everyone who participated in our Silent Auction & Raffle fundraiser last weekend. In particular, we’re grateful to the wonderful local businesses who donated prizes to the event. We couldn’t have done it without you! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
Join us on Saturday, November 17 from 8 am-12 pm and Tuesday, November 20 from 3-5 pm to pick up everything you need for Thanksgiving!
Our farmers will have sweet potatoes, salad greens, broccoli, turnips, radishes, winter squashes, beets and much more. Several vendors are taking pre-orders for locally raised turkeys and ducks, and there is also a wide selection of chicken, pork, beef and lamb. Do not forget homemade artisan breads, pies, cakes, goat and cow cheeses and homemade granola, jams, jellies, pickles and hot sauces. Shopping at the Durham Farmers’ Market guarantees that you will have the freshest, locally and sustainably grown foods available in the Triangle area!
Also, the Durham Farmers’ Market is proud to accept SNAP/EBT and offer Double Bucks, which matches SNAP/EBT transactions up to $10 and cash transactions for WIC customers, SNAP customers who are out of benefits for the month, and community members who live in Section 8 housing. The market wants to ensure that fresh, sustainably grown food is available to all community members and that everyone has the opportunity to eat local this holiday season.
We can’t wait to see you at the market with full bags of seasonal food for your Thanksgiving feasts!
Get ready to do your holiday shopping at the farmers’ market tomorrow during our Silent Auction and Raffle! We have AMAZING items from the best local businesses that would make perfect holiday gifts (or just something special for you!).
For the raffle portion of our event, we have gift certificates from some of our favorite local restaurants, including Motorco, Pompieri Pizza, Bull City Burger & Brewery, Heirloom Restaurant (Roxboro) and more. The chefs at those restaurants shop at the market and use as many local products on their menus as possible. Our raffle will also include gifts from our very own farmers’ market vendors! There will be beautiful crafts and gift certificates for cheese, chips and salsa, and even a jar of strawberry jam that won first place at the 2018 State Fair! Raffle tickets will be $1 each or 7 tickets for $5.
The Silent Auction portion of our fundraiser begins at 8:00 am on the lawn. There are some incredible items to bid on that will make thoughtful holiday gifts for your loved ones! Below is a list of the items available and the closing times for bidding.
You’ll also be able to pickup your favorite DFM merch at the event, in addition to gift certificates to the market. And don’t forget to ask us about our Friend of the Market Program. We’d love to chat with you about it!
Why are we having a silent auction? You may not know that the market operates primarily off of the weekly stall fees from our farmers and artisans. Despite this modest budget, we are constantly working to make fresh and healthy food accessible to our entire Durham community. We want to continue expanding the offerings of our market and need your help to make this happen. All of the money raised from this event will go toward market programs you love, such as the Sprouts Kid’s Club, the Double Bucks Program, cooking demos, and much, much more!
Finally, as a reminder, the Saturday Main Season Market runs through November 17. We’ll host our annual Pre-Thanksgiving Holiday Market on Tuesday, November 20 from 3:00-5:00 pm. The
Saturday Winter Market will begin on December 1 from 10:00 am-12:00 pm. That’s a lot of dates to remember!
What’s for Dinner?
Farmers’ Market Fall Salad
Serves 2-3 people as main or 4-6 as side
Did you enjoy chatting with the team from the Durham Chapel Hill Dietetic Association last Saturday? In case you missed their delicious demo, check out their seasonal salad recipe below. You’ll find everything you need to make this meal at the market tomorrow!
Salad Ingredients
5 cups seasonal greens chopped into bite-sized pieces
We hope you and your family had a very happy Halloween! THANK YOU to everyone who participated in our annual Costume Contest by voting for your favorite vendors. The fortune tellers from South Wind Produce won this year with their amazing costume and decorations (who didn’t love their puns for their produce?). Thanks to you, we raised $300 for our Double Bucks program, which matches SNAP/EBT transactions up to $10.
Speaking of Halloween – did you only have 3 trick-or-treaters this year? Are you desperately trying to get all that extra Halloween candy out of your house? Trade in your candy for farmers’ market gift certificates this Saturday! Look for Bull City Fit‘s Twix for Tomatoes booth on the market lawn. Candy will be re-purposed for holiday crafts at the Kidzu Children’s Museum.
Also, join the team from the Durham Chapel Hill Dietetic Association tomorrow. They’ll be whipping seasonal snacks on the market lawn from 8:00 am-12:00 pm. Be sure to taste their delicious samples and chat about your nutrition questions, particularly if you’re looking for tips on seasonal eating and meal prep.
We’re gearing up for our Silent Auction, which will take place at the market next Saturday, November 10. This event will raise funds for some of your favorite market programs, including the Sprouts Kid’s Club, Double Bucks, and more. Come prepared to complete your holiday shopping while also supporting the market that you love! Check out a quick summary of some of the items available below:
Signed basketballs from the coaches at Duke, NC State and UNC
Homemade gifts from our vendors, including cutting boards, crafts, baked goods, wreaths & much more!
Gift certificates to some of your favorite restaurants in Durham, as well as to Durham Farmers’ Market vendors
We’ll post a list of the items available on our website, including times for when the bidding will close. Continue checking the website for the latest information and stay tuned for the final details in next Friday’s newsletter.
Finally, as a reminder, the Saturday Main Season Market runs through November 17. We’ll host our annual Pre-Thanksgiving Holiday Market on Tuesday, November 20 from 3:00-5:00 pm. The
Saturday Winter Market will begin on December 1 from 10:00 am-12:00 pm. That’s a lot of dates to keep straight!