Autumn Equinox is here! Grab a jacket and stretch your legs with a walk around market & all the goodies to go along with it. While the forecast calls for rain thanks to Ophelia, that won’t keep us away! Rain or shine, find us at the pavilion at Durham Central Park form 8am-12pm tomorrow. And with shorter lines to all your favorite vendors, it may just be the smartest way to shop!
Make it to the market bright & early and still have time to celebrate with the Durham Pride Parade afterward, with some perfect snacks, drinks, and meals for your get togethers. To all marking Pride this week, we honor and celebrate you. Thank you for being here, and being you. We’ll see you there!
News this Week:
Diaper Bank of NC Donation HotSpot at the DFM
We’re excited to announce that the Saturday Market Food Donation Station is officially a Diaper Bank of NC donation hotspot!
Thanks to the efforts of Chris Abrons and the team of volunteers at the food donation table, community members can now drop off donations of baby diapers, period products, and adult incontinence products at the donations table next to the market info booth under the pavilion at Durham Central Park, to be given to Diaper Bank of NC and distributed to access points in the Durham area. (Products will not be distributed at the market, but the donation team will be happy to provide a list of distribution sites in our area)
Donation Drop Hours: Saturdays 8am-12pm
Learn more about the Diaper Bank of North Carolina, and find a list of volunteer opportunities, donation hotspots, and product access points in your area at: Diaper Bank of North Carolina
Just a Reminder:
No Pets in the Market
Making a trip to the market? Please plan to leave furry friends at home, or with a friend outside of the market area. For the safety of both customers and pets, Durham Farmers’ Market does not allow dogs or other pets in the market area during market hours, with the exception of official service animals. Leashed animals are welcome throughout other areas of Durham Central Park.
Unexpectedly find yourself popping into market with your dog? Most Wednesday and Saturday markets, our #1 volunteer and dog lover, Mike, will be stationed at the entrance to market on Foster Street and is happy to hold your dog, and offer water and lots of pets while you shop.
For the butternut squash muffins, we modified a recipe from Cookie + Kate (find the recipe here) and let’s just say the butternut squash is a winner! These muffins really are super yummy, healthy, and perfect for a rainy weekend. We posted a step-by-step video on our Instagram, which you can find here!
This recipe for Roasted Beet & Butternut Squash Salad, featuring creamy goat cheese and fresh arugula is a perfect tip of the hat to the coming fall, while keeping it light, easy, and cool for the warmer days as the summer season temperatures slow down. This recipe is courtesy of Pass Me Some Tasty, and you can find it on their website along with cooking at storage tips here
Market Music By
river james + lexi sunrise
Poetry by
The Poetry Fox
Want to find out what else your local farmers are bringing to the market this week? Check out this week’s Newsletter! https://conta.cc/3EPdRDm
When: Saturday, September 23rd, 8am – 12pm
Where: The Pavilion at Durham Central Park / 501 Foster Street
Fall is almost here! Celebrate with a trip to the Wednesday Market today 3-6pm and enjoy all the seasonal veggies, pasture-raised meat, cheese, yogurt and gelato, honey and candles, freshly baked bread, cookies, pizza, and lots more.
Here’s a look at what’s up at market this week: Sprouts Club, Pet Policy, Weekly Recipe, Vendor List and more, below!
This Week’s Vendors
Click the links below to learn more about these local farms & businesses, and get a sneak peak at the products they have on offer!
Join the The Museum of Life + Science at the Sprouts Club table from 3-5pm today for this week’s theme: Future of Farm Work – Scavenger Hunt The food we consume daily would not be possible without the hard work of farmers. Let us take a moment to show our appreciation and learn from vendors here today on how they started their journeys.
Just a Reminder: Pet Policy
Please note that the Durham Farmers’ Market does not allow dogs or other pets in the market area during market hours, with the exception of official service animals. Leashed animals are welcome throughout other areas of Durham Central Park.
Unexpectedly find yourself popping into market with your dog? Most Wednesday and Saturday markets, our #1 volunteer and dog lover, Mike, will be stationed at the entrance to market on Foster Street and is happy to hold your dog and offer water and lots of pets while you shop.
Recipe of the Week: Roasted Beet and Butternut Squash Salad
This week’s recipe is a tip of the hat to summer salad season with a fall twist, highlighting butternut squash, beets, and arugula in season this month at the market. Top it off with creamy goat cheese, fresh herbs, pumpkin seeds, and balsamic dressing for a flavorful and nutritious lunch, dinner, or side dish for your next fall get together.
Today, you can find butternut squash at Hurtgen Meadows Farm, goat cheese at Celebrity Dairy, beets at Harland’s Creek Farm, and garlic and herbs at Wild Scallions, Harland’s Creek, and Hurtgen Meadows. Want to top it with some pasture-raised chicken or pork? Bull City Farm will have some excellent selections ready for your table!
Want to find out what else is coming to the market this week? Check out this week’s Newsletter! https://conta.cc/3RrwBA2
When: Wednesday, September 20th, 3pm – 6pm
Where: The Pavilion at Durham Central Park / 501 Foster Street
It’s forecast to be a gorgeous day for market this weekend (knock on wood)! And y’all, are we going to be glad for it! Last week’s heavy rains were no fun, and tough on our vendors, so we’re ready and excited to give them a little extra love and a wonderful market this week. Huge thank you to all of you who donned your rain jackets and came out on Saturday, and to those who made a special trip downtown to support these local businesses this week. We should have a beautiful, crisp start to the morning and warm sunshine to send us off – you won’t want to miss it!
Market Sneak Peek
Just can’t wait to find out what folks are bringing to market this week? Here’s a little sneak peek of what some of your favorite vendors are up!
1. Muscadine Grapes from Deep River Farm (so fresh, right at the peak of the season!)
2. Cantaloupe Mint Soup from Short Winter Soups (it’s seriously good!)
3. Fresh Ginger from Phoenix Farm (Jackson is back at market with some gorgeous fall produce!)
4. Pansy and Dianthus from Bonlee Grown Farm (don’t miss their special sale on yellow early blooming mums!)
5. Classic Cream Goat Freshen from Boxcarr Handmade Cheeses (Sooo good right now!)
6. Pork, Chicken, Beef & more from Fickle Creek Farm (pre-order for easy pick up at market! Link here)
2 More Days to Vote for the DFM!
Help us get to the top and win best market in North Carolina! Current Ranking: 5th Place
How quickly can we move through the ranks??
Cast your vote before voting ends September 18th!
It’s time for the 2023 America’s Farmers Market Celebration! And you know what that means…you can help us win the “People’s Choice” award of up to $5,000 to fund important market programs! It only takes a moment and a couple of clicks to make a big ol’ difference. And we’d love it if you could help us spread the word by sharing with your work place, friends, and family. Click the link below to cast your vote!
Recipe of the Week: Braised Chicken with Muscadine Grapes and Sherry
Courtesy of katiebutton.com: “The seasonal transition from summer to fall creates space for this warming chicken dish, making use of delicious, native muscadine grapes of the Southeast. For this recipe, we’re using chicken leg quarters – the thigh and the leg. This dark meat holds up well to braising, which allows enough time for the grapes to melt into a divine sauce. You might expect the sauce to finish sticky-sweet for this dish, but it’s velvety and savory. The marriage of garlic, onion, sherry wine and grapes is very balancing. Wilting a little bit of spinach into the pan sauce is a great excuse to sop up every drop! I recommend a bit of crusty bread alongside this dish.”
photo: katiebutton.com
Find pasture-raised chicken, muscadine grapes at the height of their season, as well as spinach, garlic, onions, and more at the DFM tomorrow!
Market Music
Singer-songwriter Remona Jeannine joins us this week! You can check out her music here: remonajeannine.com
Poetry Corner
This week, The Poetry Fox is back! Find him on Foster St. for a one-of-a-kind poem, created right in front of you!
Want to find out what else your local farmers are bringing to the market this week? Check out this week’s Newsletter! https://conta.cc/3RlpZmK
When: Saturday, September 16th, 8am – 12pm
Where: The Pavilion at Durham Central Park / 501 Foster Street
It’s a beautiful day for an afternoon at the Durham Farmers Market!
This week it’s WIC Family Day at the Wednesday Market! Find details (including an extra $10 for families shopping today who participate in WIC) and learn more about the program below.
Folks, we had a wet and wild Saturday market this week. We stay open, rain or shine, and are grateful for our farmers and creators who stuck it out with us this last week amidst some really heavy rains. We’re also so grateful for customers who put on their rain jackets, grabbed an umbrella, and came on out to market! However, it was a tough day for our vendors. This week, let’s show them a little love & help support these wonderful staples of our farmers market community! Shop this Wednesday and Saturday and you’ll be sure to head home with the freshest, tastiest produce, meats, breads, drinks, and lots more. We’ll see you there!
WIC Day at Market
Today! Families who participate in WIC can shop with us today 3-6pm and receive $10 dollars to spend at market! Plus, we’ll have tasty food samples, live music, and a fun activity for the kids!
And don’t forget, every Wednesday and Saturday, you can bring your WIC card to the market information table to get your “Double Bucks” and double your spending power!
The Museum of Life + Science is with us for the next few weeks and we couldn’t be happier! This week’s theme is: Fizzy Sherbert –Bubble, Sizzle and Pop! Let’s make a delicious chemical reaction for your enjoyment. Stop by the Museum’s table from 3-5pm!
What’s in Season – September
Here’s a glimpse at what’s in season at market and in the surrounding area this month!
Vote for the DFM in the America’s Farmers Market Celebration!
Cast your vote before voting ends September 18th!
It’s time for the 2023 America’s Farmers Market Celebration! And you know what that means…you can help us win the “People’s Choice” award of up to $5,000 to fund important market programs! It only takes a moment and a couple of clicks to make a big ol’ difference. And we’d love it if you could help us spread the word by sharing with your work place, friends, and family. Click the link below to cast your vote!
Take a peek at the fresh & flavorful produce, meat, meals, & so much more on offer tomorrow at the market – eat well, while supporting your local farmers & small businesses!
This week, DFM staff got to meet with 7th graders from Central Park School for Children to hear what they are learning in their class about food deserts – what they are, some of the problems surrounding the issue of food access in Durham, and some solutions. We also got to tell them all about the DFM (some of them shop at the market and know all about the goodness within). It was a delight to meet them down at the pavilion in the park, the place that so many customers, vendors, and staff have made home, and talk about how customers can use their SNAP/EBT cards at market, and about how the programs like WIC vouchers, Senior Voucher, and Double Bucks, can help farmers markets increase our community members’ access to fresh, delicious foods. We also talked about how we like to think of the interconnectedness of diversity like a three-pointed triangle: Community, farmer, & food, all connected to one another. We strive to support a diverse community of farmers and producers so their businesses and our local economy thrives, so that we can continue to offer an ever growing variety of foods and products, so that everyone in Durham feels at home at the market and is able to purchase the tasty, nutritious foods they love. And just like the triangle imagery, it’s all connected. We’re grateful for every Saturday we get to spend alongside you, and we’re grateful for the ways you make the DFM a diverse and beautiful place. Curious about these programs & goals, or how you can partner with the market? Feel free to email us or catch us at market to learn more about these programs.
And here are just a few photos of the goodness that awaits you tomorrow at the market!
Donate to Local Food Pantries in our Area
Every Saturday, Chris and friends volunteer at the Donation Table, located by the market information table under the pavilion, collecting fresh market foods and cash donations to help stock local food pantries in our community. Curious to learn more? Stop by Saturdays during market hours to chat with this amazing team of volunteers & find out more about the donation program. New this month, they will be able to accept diapers and menstrual products with their Diaper Bank! More on that next week!
Poet William Davis (Endless Will) is back! Find him on Foster Street for your own personalized typewritten poem.
Vote for the DFM in the America’s Farmers Market Celebration!
Cast your vote before voting ends September 18th!
It’s time for the 2023 America’s Farmers Market Celebration! And you know what that means…you can help us win the “People’s Choice” award of up to $5,000 to fund important market programs! It only takes a moment and a couple of clicks to make a big ol’ difference. And we’d love it if you could help us spread the word by sharing with your work place, friends, and family. Click the link below to cast your vote!
Celebrate Labor Day & the last hurrah of summer with the DFM!
Wow, we’re gearing up to start the Saturday morning market with temperatures in the 60s and we’re pretty excited! Of course with this change we are reminded that fall is just around the corner, and while it can be hard to say goodbye to summer and all of the fun that it brings, we are grateful for new seasons of life and growth. From the plants that flourish with the fall rains, to those beautiful colors touching the trees, and the ability to walk outside with a light sweater on, there is so much to enjoy in these first few cool days that usher in this new chapter. Last week at Wednesday Market, we welcomed Duke University students on their orientation tour of the market. Some of our Sprouts Club kids have come to market sharing their stories of the new school year. For those of us past our school days, our fall season may look a little different but still holds a sense of changing. Whatever this month holds for you, wistfully saying goodbye to good summer vibes or whole-heartedly embracing this fall, we are grateful we get to watch the changing of the seasons together and wish you the best of new chapters this September and coming fall.
September is such a fun month for sourcing your veggies, fruits, and flowers at the farmers market. Our farmers carefully tend to their summer crops and help them thrive into the late summer season, which means you can still find freshly harvested watermelons, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, and peppers of so many flavors and varieties on their tables. Meanwhile, they also spend these summer days hard at work planning and planting for their fall crops. Already we are seeing pumpkins, apples, pears, beets, carrots, young ginger, popcorn, and lots of nutritious leafy greens ready to enjoy. This clash of summer and fall produce makes shopping at the market a “must-do” – both for the rich diversity of flavors to take home, and for the joy of walking around market and admiring the beauty. Want a glimpse of what else is in season this month? Take a look below or chat with your favorite farmers at the market this week to find out!
What’s in Season – September
Here’s a glimpse at what’s in season at market and in the surrounding area this month!
Find everything you need for a rocking Labor Day get-together this weekend!
Feeling wistful for the heart of summer? Why not celebrate big this weekend with a last hurrah to the summer season, supplied by the DFM? We have everything you need for a delicious get-together this Labor Day weekend. In addition to the beautiful array of fruits, veggies, and flowers on their way to the market tomorrow, our pastured meat farmers and prepared food vendors are gearing up to get you set for the holiday! Take a look at the list of vendors below to find your favorite items:
Bonlee Grown Farms – find Amy’s famous pickles, jams, mums for your table, and more!
Bouquet Garni Foods – Chef Eric always has something delicious ready to take home and enjoy, with a menu featuring various international flavors infused with French and West African flairs.
By the Brook Ferments – This season’s Smoked Tempeh blocks really wowed us this year, with rich flavor perfect to match your weekend BBQs and dinners. With rotating entrees and sauerkrauts, you’ll be sure to find a favorite too.
Chapel Hill Creamery – Find delicious ground beef for your burgers and a wide variety of cheeses that pair perfectly with dishes like pizza, tacos, or egg frittata!
Cilantro Artisan Foods – What better snack to bring to your hangout than handmade tortilla chips, salsa, and their amazing guacamole? That’s it for us!
Fickle Creek Farm – Farmer Noah has so many pastured raised meats on offer this week! You can usually find chicken, pork, and beef in many cuts as well as delicious and snackable jerkys and salamis every week at his table.
Isaac’s Bagels – This long weekend, sleep in and let them take care of your brunch with bagels and cream cheese spreads that are just too easy to love.
LaKay Farm is back at market this week with their eggs and chickens! We love this family and their farm practices! Stop by their table for a chat to learn more.
Meadow Lane Farm – to find ALL of the goodness Martha and her crew are bringing to market this week, check out our newsletter link below! In addition to late-season watermelons, Martha offers certified organic meats perfect for the grill and get together.
Melina’s Fresh Pasta – less of a BBQ fan, more of a pasta lover? Find Melina’s under the pavilion this and every week for some truly fresh and flavorful hand-crafted pastas and sauces!
Misty Morning Ranch – Farmer Ryan has a wealth of knowledge about the tender flavor and health benefits to ostrich meat. It is truly delicious. Stop by his table this weekend for your weekly stock-up or to try something new!
Moonbelly Meat Co. – Chef Anna skillfully crafts her artisan sausages, bacon, and more…with flavors like Korean BBQ, Pizza, Chimichurri and lots more. They’re sure to be a BBQ hit.
Red Tail Grains – Needing all the baking supplies this weekend? Red Tail Grains is a MUST check out for local heirloom flours and grains!
Short Winter Soups – If you’ve ever stopped by their booth for a weekly free sample of their handcrafted soups, we don’t need to tell you how special their soups are! Looking for something easy and delicious this weekend? Let them do the work for you!
Soul Cocina – Specializing in vegan and gluten free fare, Soul Cocina is a treasure of flavors in the prepared food department. Check out their papusas, enchiladas, three piece meals, tamales and much more!
Spicy Hermit – We can’t wait for Eunice’s butternut squash kimchi this season! Check them out for the flavor-packed and locally crafted kimchi that is great for your tastebuds and your body!
Stoney Mountain Farm – Farmers John and Olga specialize in lamb and woolen products, and this weekend if you’re looking for something new and special for your get togethers, you will certainly want to ask them to show you their amazing pasture-raised lamb cuts!
Sunset Ridge Buffalo – Jack is back, and bringing with him his buffalo steaks, sausages, and meat sticks! Enjoy this tender and low-fat meat while soaking in every minute of the long weekend.
Washington Crab – Seafood lover? Check out NC seafood vendor, Washington Crab and their huge variety of options
Vote for the DFM in the America’s Farmers Market Celebration!
Cast your vote before voting ends September 18th!
It’s time for the 2023 America’s Farmers Market Celebration! And you know what that means…you can help us win the “People’s Choice” award of up to $5,000 to fund important market programs! It only takes a moment and a couple of clicks to make a big ol’ difference. And we’d love it if you could help us spread the word by sharing with your work place, friends, and family. Click the link below to cast your vote!
