Celebrate Spring’s Arrival at the Western Wake Farmers’ Market Season Opening

March 19, 2011 - PRLog -- Cary, NC – What better way to celebrate the arrival of spring in the Triangle than by visiting the Western Wake Farmers’ Market (WWFM) for some fresh seasonal produce?  The market, located at 1225 Morrisville Carpenter Road in Cary, opens for its third season on Saturday, April 2.  Market hours are 8:00 a.m. until noon each Saturday through mid-November.  

Whole Foods Market of Cary will be on hand to celebrate the market’s third season opening with Double Green Smoothies, featuring local produce from market vendors.  Market goers are encouraged to stop by the Education Tent for a sample.  

The WWFM is open year-round, rain or shine, to provide area residents with access to locally grown and crafted foods.  Market offerings include fresh seasonal produce, flowers, herbs, baked goods, eggs, cheese, meats and seafood, as well as coffee, tea, local honey, hand-crafted soaps and more.  Information about all of the market’s farmers and vendors can be found at http://www.WesternWakeFarmersMarket.org.  In addition, WWFM’s e-newsletter, Western Wake Eats, includes details on what’s planned for the market as well as updates on what’s fresh each week.

Chef demos, which showcase the skills of local chefs using the market’s local ingredients, along with guest educators, children’s activities and live music continue to draw families to the market.  “We love that our community is connecting around healthy food,” said Juliann Zoetmulder, WWFM President.  “We’re so excited to open up for our third season with some unique new vendors alongside our vendors that we already know and love.  Everyone is invited to come out and sample our goods for this year; your Saturday won’t be complete with a trip to the WWFM.”

As a grower’s/producer’s-only market, the WWFM requires its vendors to either grow their own produce or hand-craft their products rather than purchasing them elsewhere to re-sell.  They must also be located within 125 miles of the market to ensure access to local, fresh foods.  By comparison, produce sold at many area grocers has traveled an average of 1,500 miles (and sometimes even across continents).

Seasonal produce available at the market is picked at the peak of ripeness for the best taste and nutritional benefit, and has been grown with minimal or no pesticides.  Eggs and meats from grass-fed animals offer much greater nutritional value and significantly less saturated fat than these products sold at grocery stores.  Supporting local family farmers also nurtures community and a local economy, while helping the environment.

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The Western Wake Farmers’ Market is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization whose mission is for all people in our community to become educated about and benefit from locally grown food. The aim is to help all walks of life, from the farmers to the local community members to those less fortunate who might need assistance through the local food bank. The WWFM partners with the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle in recovering nutritious, perishable foods for the hungry in our area.