Happy spring! It’s the start of the season, which means that an abundance of fresh and local produce will soon be available. And that means variety beyond sweet potatoes, turnips and collards. Sure, if you want to shake it up, you could go scour the grocery store and, if you’re lucky, find a somewhat fresh-looking tomato from Brazil or a bunch of asparagus that droops less than the others … or, you know, fish imported from thousands of miles away and bakery items made in a factory. This food gets the job done, yes, but it doesn’t compare to the rich and flavorful taste of fresh food from right down the road – food that’s been cultivated with care. When it comes to finding farm-fresh vegetables (and soon fruit too), there’s no better place to go than the Edenton Farmers Market.
Edenton and Chowan County are known for the agriculture industry, and in 2010 the Edenton Farmers Market became an established way that consumers could connect with local producers, craftsmen and other small business owners. The trend of farmers markets in towns has been rising over the past decade. But while many towns’ markets operate on a seasonal basis, the Edenton Farmers Market stays open year round. Their hours are longer in the spring, summer and fall (8 a.m. to 12 p.m. every Saturday and varying hours on Wednesdays afternoons), but during the winter, they remain a place to find vegetables, meats, poultry, fish, eggs, honey, cheese, baked goods, handmade soaps, plants and crafts – all grown, caught and made by locals.
The market’s permanent location in Edenton’s historic downtown gives the nonprofit organization and local business owners a place where they can operate regular business hours out of one place. For the people of Edenton, the market’s building offers easy access to a regular supply of fresh, healthy food bought directly from farmers, cooks and bakers. Shoppers can wake up on Saturday morning, walk or drive to the market and scope out the scene. You can regularly count on eggs, beef, jams and jellies, something leafy and green, hot donuts made onsite, homemade cookies, quick breads, sourdough breads, cakes and other baked treats. Occasionally, there will be prepared, savory food available for wholesale too.
And then we get to the fun part of the market: the fact that every time you go, you can expect to see something new. The produce is only what’s fresh and available, so shoppers have the pleasure of cooking and eating with the season’s top delicacies.
As spring starts, well, springing up around us, the new season brings the addition of fresh-cut flowers (tulips right now), asparagus, fresh lettuces and microgreens, quail eggs and other goodies from local farmers to the tables at Edenton Farmers Market. You can still get scallops, oysters and crab cakes from fishermen’s booths, and they’re beginning to offer soft-shell crabs too. It’s also not too early to start planning your Easter festivities. Some bakery vendors are taking orders for Easter breads, cakes and festive sweets. Additionally, artists’ displays at the market are starting to feature decorative wreaths and yard art.
The best part of Edenton Farmers Market, though, is the sense of community it fosters. It connects consumers with the area’s producers and encourages people to care about where they buy their food. In turn, the ability to buy directly from farmers, fishermen and other small business owners strengthens Edenton’s economy. The market is the sort of place where everyone knows your name. Talk to the vendors about what’s in season and get tips on what to expect in the upcoming weeks. If you think of items during the week that you want to see at the market come Saturday, reach out to them over their Facebook page, and they’ll work to accommodate requests. Their Facebook page also gives a weekly heads up before Saturday morning, so shoppers get a sample of which vendors and what goodies they can look forward to finding that weekend. Keep an eye out for updates, and when you wake up Saturday, grab your shopping bag and go see what the Edenton Farmers Market is serving up that week.
You'll find the market at 200 N. Broad Street in downtown Edenton.
Photo credits to Edenton Farmers Market
About the Author Hannah Lee Leidy
Hannah Lee is a fiction and creative nonfiction writer living on the Outer Banks. She graduated from Kenyon College in Ohio with a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing. Traveling is her passion, but nowhere ever feels as much like home as the Outer Banks. When not planning her next trip or adventure, Hannah Lee loves aimless drives down the Beach Road, spending copious amounts of time in coffee shops and reading every short story collection she gets her hands on. 