The Caldwell County Farmers Market is set to reopen on Saturday, offering bushels of fresh produce, baked goods, and the potential to save money amid rising grocery prices.
According to the USDA’s March report, grocery and restaurant prices will continue to rise between 4.5-5.5% in 2022, with food-away-from-home prices expected to be impacted the most, between 5.5 and 6.5%. Food-at-home prices are expected to increase by 3-4%.
Carla McGinnis, marketing director for the Caldwell County Farmers Market, said she believes shopping at your local farmers market is a great way to potentially cut costs in your food budget.
“Personally, I find it to be cheaper at the farmers market because our farmers typically sell fresh produce by the pound instead of singular vegetables and fruit…the farmers market is a great way for the community to have access to reasonably priced produce.”
The Caldwell County Farmers Market also accepts WIC, through a program known as WIC’s Farmers Market Nutrition Program.
“A lot of our farmers are registered with the state of North Carolina to accept vouchers, they’re used just like a check,” she said. “Typically, at least once a season, a WIC representative comes out to the market to help people who are interested and qualified to get set up.”
McGinnis also said the market has been opened to vendors outside of Caldwell County for the first time.
“A lot of our local farmers have reached retirement age,” she said, and opening the market for vendors out of town also allows a wider variety.
The market is held at 902 Harper Ave on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. from May 7 to October 29.
(Map image from City of Lenoir)
Below is a full list of the 2022 Caldwell County Farmers Market offerings:
Artisan Foods
baked goods, bread, cider, dried fruits, honey, jam, preserves, juice, maple syrup, pesto, pet food, pickles, salad dressing, sorghum molasses, tomato sauce
Dairy & Eggs
eggs
Flowers
dried flowers, edible flowers, fresh flowers
Fruits & Berries
apples, asian pears, black raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupes, cherries, figs, grapes, kiwis, melons, muscadines, nectarines, paw paws, peaches, pears, persimmons, plums, raspberries, strawberries, watermelons, wineberries
Herbs
dried herbs, fresh herbs
Meat, Fish & Fowl
beef, pork
Nuts & Seeds
chestnuts, pecans, walnuts
Specialty Products
artisan crafts, beeswax, candles, Christmas trees, Christmas wreaths, corn shocks, decorative, floral wreaths, firewood, garlic braids, gourds, greenery, hand spun yarn, landscape plants, medicinal herbs, ornamental corn, plants, salves, seeds, soap
Vegetables
arugula, asparagus, beets, broccoli, brussels sprout, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chiles, chinese greens, collards, cucumber, daikon, dry beans, edamame, eggplant, fava beans, garlic, green beans, green onions, hot peppers, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, nettles, okra, onions, parsnips, peas, pole beans, potatoes, pumpkins, radish, rhubarb, rutabagas, salad greens, salad mix, shallots, shell beans, spinach, summer squash, sunchokes, sweet corn, sweet peppers, sweet potato, swiss chard, tomatillos, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, winter squash