April 18, 2007

Published in Wake Forest, NC

            The crowds who made the opening day a success returned last week, with organizer Terri Wilkinson estimating between 250 and 300 shoppers.

            “We had another really great market day, rivaling some of our best days last season,” Wilkinson said. “It was a great way to start out as our early days are typically slower. We will have lots more produce and more vendors as the season heats up.”

            The grand opening of the market will be May 12 – the April dates are just a foretaste of the bounty of the gardens and farms. Some of the other special events during the spring and summer are a customer appreciation and children’s day on June 2, a picnic at the market June 30 when visitors can enjoy tasty dishes made with fresh local ingredients, a summer harvest celebration on July 28, a dueling chef competition featuring garlic on Aug. 18, and the Second Annual Four-Alarm Chili Cook-off on Sept. 29 when the proceeds will benefit the Wake Forest Fire Department.

            You will find the following vendors and their products at the Wake Forest Farmers’ Market when it returns on April 28.

• Mapleville Fruit and Berry Farm: jellies, jams and stained-glass art.

• Cedar Rock Farms: shitakes, vegetables, eggs, chickens and pheasants.

• Blessed Be Soaps: aromatherapy soaps, candles, lotions and more.

• Polecat Mountain Farm: pasture-raised poultry, eggs and pork, also vegetables.

• The Flour Garden: breads, pies, pastries from organic locally milled flours and grains.

• Whetstone Homegrown Farm: specialty plants and trees, vegetables and fruit.

• Homestead Farms: fresh cut flowers.

• Greenhill Farm: spring vegetables, baked goods and farm crafts.

• Chef Thom: specialty sauces and The Perfect Butt.

• Flying Pig Farm: fresh cut flowers, several varieties of garlic, garlic butters and spreads.

• Betty’s Bloomers: heirloom vegetables, plants and flowers.

• Triple B Farm: pasture-raised pork, beef, poultry and eggs.

• Redman Pottery: beautiful locally made pottery.

• Robin’s Nest: home, garden and lawn sculptures.

• Sleepy Goat Farm, artisan goat cheese (chèvre and hard cheeses).

• Rocky Ridge Farm: vegetables, berries, grapes and more.

• Wild Onion Farm: vegetables, eggs and more.

• John Buettner: specialty plants, tropical plants, flowers and vegetables.

• Local Master Gardeners to answer questions about your gardens and plants.

            These are the vendors and products who will join the market in coming weeks as their produce or their schedules allow.

• Blueberry Hill: fresh blueberries and vegetables

• Capritopia Farm: vegetables

• Lovejoy Pottery: beautiful handmade pottery.

• Melvin’s Gardens: herbs and plants

• Jeffrey’s Strawberry Patch

• McCallisters: gourd art, herbs, garden-related gifts and artwork.

• Meadowbright Farm: vegetables, eggs, flowers and more, catnip cat toys

• Powell Roper and Victoria Pender: heirloom tomatoes and many more vegetables.

• William Lord: honey.