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| - This is an all week market but the real show is on Saturday mornings. Any other time is setup with resellers that might truck in from far away or even worse grab their goods from the HT distro plant.
However, on a Saturday.. meet the local farmers and artisan producers.
During the summer any given Saturday might have upwards of 4000 cars in traffic. It's an amazing spread of vegetables, meats, goat cheese, breads, and chocolates & more.
During the warmer months the greenery shed is open and many types of plants can be bought and many transplants for gardens.
The weekend also opens the craft barn which showcases local crafters which really need more attention than they get.
You can recognize many local farms by Slow Food Charlotte giving them banners that say NC Farmer or SC Farmer, or just ask them. If you feel your question is being dodged, you've learned something. Otherwise many farmers are very engaging and if you want things you can't seem to be on time for you can just about always order ahead.
This farmers market has been open for at least 20 years and while it's not the best layout, not the most pedestrian friendly, and the way management sometimes seems to treat the vendors--it is still the best location to find our regions farmers on a Saturday. Second to this is probably Matthews Farmers Market (another well established, and local only market).
Notes:
* Meat vendors will take credit cards, most veggie vendors do not. There is no close ATM so come prepared.
* Market opens at 8a but people start shopping before hand. Local eggs are generally first to go but more farmers have been entering the fray and that is becoming less a problem.
* Seasonality makes a big difference, winter is slow but if our conditions have been right you can still grab quite a diversity of winter veggies. Spring and summer is very bountiful for our area.
Disclaimer: my family sells chocolates here on Saturday's.
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