First Saturday market of the year draws crowd

Carrboro is known to many as a small community that nurtures all things organic and natural.

That atmosphere was evident this weekend as the Carrboro Town Commons, at 301 W. Main St., opened to throngs of shoppers looking for anything from fresh lettuce to homemade ice cream.

On Saturday, after a week of rain and cold temperatures, the weather was clear and spring-like for the opening day of the 27th season for the Carrboro Farmers’ Market.

A variety of fresh produce, baked goods and handmade items such as soaps and hats were on display at the area’s premier farmers’ market — open from 7 a.m. to noon each Saturday until Dec. 17.

“The sunshine and warm weather is great,” said Steven Moize, owner of The Shady Grove Farm in Hurdle Mills and who was selling pastured poultry eggs. “Business has been wonderful.

“You couldn’t ask for a better opening day.”

This was Moize’s fifth year at the market, and the eggs fulfilled a key criterion for vendors: Goods must be produced within a 50-mile radius of the market.

“It’s an unusually big opening,” Alfred de la Houssaye of the Sweet Water Pecan Orchard said as he gave out samples of pecans to passers-by. He said he had sold out of pecan pies early that day.

Several merchants said the appeal of farmers’ markets is that customers get the chance to interact with the farmers who grow their food — something a customer won’t experience while shopping at a supermarket.

“People get to see what farmers really do,” said Louise Parrish of Louise’s Old Fashioned Baked Goods. “At the grocery store, people are just buying the same things.”

Parrish added that the outdoor market was also an ideal venue for people who want to be out on a sunny day.

Sheila Neal, market manager, said there was an excellent vendor turnout this year. The Saturday market did not accept new vendors this year because it was so full.

“There is a huge amount of competition to get in,” de la Houssaye said.

There is also a Wednesday afternoon market in Carrboro, which opens April 13, and a Thursday market at Southern Village in Chapel Hill, which opens April 14.

Neal said the Wednesday market is growing in popularity because there tends to be more parking during the week.

This is the first year that the market has had a year-round, full-time market manager to oversee all three markets.

“It simplifies the process,” Neal said, adding that having a central manager will help the market come up with long-term solutions for common issues and enhance market vitality.

More information on market hours and recipes can be found at http://chcfarmersmarket.com.

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.