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- North Carolina State-run
Markets Attract Millions
- By Karen Gentry
Managing Editor
- In North Carolina millions shop at five large farmers’ markets in Asheville, Lumberton, Colfax, Charlotte and Raleigh, all run by the state.
These markets are operated by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services and are part of a long tradition of state-run facilities.
The history of the markets dates back to 1955 when the farmers’ market in downtown Raleigh was struggling financially, according to Ronnie Best, manager of the Raleigh market.
“Raleigh was so successful, 25 years ago they decided to do one in Asheville,” said Best. Best and Mike Ferguson, manager of the WNC Farmers’ Market in Asheville, spoke at the recent North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association conference in Charlotte, N.C. in February.
Because of the different market locations each one has taken on a life of its own, according to Best. The markets are conveniently located near major interstates and are open 12 months a year, seven days a week. All of the markets contain wholesale and retail components and include special areas for growers, along with other areas for crafts and baked goods. Vendors are charged only between $5 to $7 per day.
Some southern style, special events at the markets include a Watermelon Day, Collards Festival and a Peach Dessert Contest.
In Asheville, because of the close proximity to South Carolina and Tennessee, more produce is trucked out, while the Colfax market serves the large population center of Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point, according to Best.
At the Raleigh market eight wholesalers sell their produce. As many as 300 to 400 farmers per year sell retail at the market at the 90 spaces allotted for vendors.
“We’re full April through December,” said Best. The busy season begins in April with horticulture plants and local produce. Both Raleigh and Asheville average more than two million visitors per year.
More Hispanic and Oriental type produce is being grown to be sold in the Raleigh market to cater to those groups, according to Best.
“They cook and they like outdoor shopping,” said Best about the growing ethnic populations in his region. Shopping at the markets is also a social activity for many groups.
The Asheville area has also seen a growth in the number of Hispanics including some who are becoming growers.
Best said the farmers’ market in Lumberton started two years go and is located off of I-95, across the border from South Carolina. Best believes this fledgling market will become a popular rest stop for visitors. The Raleigh market is currently self-supporting and Asheville is almost self-supporting, according to Best.
The Raleigh markets includes a store that sells North Carolina products such as barbeque sauces and a farmers’ market restaurant and a seafood restaurant as well as a garden center.
Location, location and location has proved to be the key to the success of the Asheville market. The market is right in between two interstates, I-40 and I-26, located adjacent to the Biltmore Estate, a huge tourist attraction in Asheville. The Asheville market sells unique items such as sourwood honey and molasses and even moonshine jelly, according to Ferguson.
“We’re located in the mountains which has helped our retail and wholesale trade,” said Ferguson. He said many of the small roadside market all over the mountains buy from the Asheville market.
The busiest months for the Asheville market are August and October. In August the largest amount of produce is coming in and in October tourists flock to the region for color tours. Weekends are busy with as many as 5,000 people per day, Ferguson said.
Ferguson has 200 shed spaces available for farmers and resellers, with one area reserved for farmers only. The market employs 17 year-round employees, many of whom work in security as the wholesale area is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Ferguson said that vine-ripened tomatoes are the number-one commodity in North Carolina. Also popular is the Cameo variety of apple, the winner in taste tests at the market.
The Asheville market leases space to Carolina Organic Growers, an organic cooperative made up of 30 growers. The organic produce is sold to retail stores throughout North Carolina, Ferguson said.
For more information on the North Carolina markets visit www.ncda markets.org.
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