Triangle farmers markets: A guide to fresh produce, local vendors and more

North Carolina agriculture was an almost $96 billion industry in 2019, bringing in about 16% of the state’s gross domestic product (GDP), or state income, according to research and calculations within N.C. State University’s Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics.

That means there’s plenty of agricultural commodities, including all kinds of produce, being grown and harvested throughout the state — and plenty of opportunities to purchase them at places like local farmers markets.

The Triangle is rich with farmers markets, and The News & Observer has compiled this guide to help you learn more about some of them, including their seasons and hours of operation.

Note: This list and information is up-to-date as of March 10, 2023. It’s a good idea to double-check each market’s website for hours and information before you head to the market.

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Raleigh farmers markets

▪ State Farmers Market — A regional farmers market operated by the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, the State Farmers Market is open seven days a week year-round. The market features the 30,000-square-foot Farmers Building with local produce; the 15,600-square-foot Market Shoppes with more fresh produce, plus meats, cheeses, crafts, bakery items and more; a wholesale market; restaurants and more.

Address: 1201 Agriculture St., Raleigh

Hours: 5 a.m.-7p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday

▪ Midtown Raleigh Farmers Market — Located at the Commons at North Hills, the Midtown Raleigh Farmers Market serves as a destination for fresh, local food year-round. The regular market season typically runs from April-November, but the market also offers winter hours. The market features more than 35 local vendors who sell produce, breads, desserts, nuts, dairy, meats, crafts and more.

Address: The Commons at North Hills; 4191 Main at North Hills St., Raleigh

Hours: The regular 2023 market season begins April 15, and runs through Nov. 4. Regular market hours are Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon.

▪ Moore Square Market — Operated by the Downtown Raleigh Alliance in collaboration with the Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department, Moore Square Market is a seasonal market that runs from May to October. The market features fresh, seasonal goods as well as original, high-quality crafts. All vendors at the market operate within 90 miles of Raleigh. The market also accepts SNAP.

Address: Moore Square; 200 S. Blount St., Raleigh

Hours: The 2023 market season will start on May 14 and run through Oct. 22. The market is open Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

▪ Black Farmers Market — The Black Farmers Market features more than 30 Black-owned vendors, including farmers; health and wellness businesses; prepared food and beverage vendors; crafters and artisans. The market is bimonthly and alternates between Raleigh and Durham.

Address: Southeast Raleigh YMCA; 1436 Rock Quarry Road, Raleigh

Hours: The Raleigh Black Farmers Market is held on the fourth Sunday of the month from 1-4 p.m. Check the market’s website at blackfarmersmkt.com for more information on when the 2023 market season will start. The market happens rain or shine.

Cary farmers markets

▪ Cary Downtown Farmers Market — The Cary Downtown Farmers Market began in 1996 with three small, family farms, and has grown to include more than 20 vendors. Vendors include farmers, plus coffee roasters, bakers, craftsmen and more. All growers must live and grow or raise their products within 100 miles of downtown Cary.

Address: 200 E. Chatham St., Cary

Hours: The Cary Downtown Farmers Market is open year-round on Saturdays. The traditional market runs from April to October, 8 a.m. to noon. The winter market runs November to March, 9 a.m. to noon.

Apex farmers markets

▪ Apex Farmers Market — This market in Wake County features vendors who generally grow or produce their goods within 150 miles of the market. Products include fruits and vegetables, pastured and sustainably farmed chicken, beef and pork, fresh farm eggs, baked goods, honey, cheeses, jams and preserves, sauces, salsas, crafts and more. The market is normally open on Saturdays, but also offers a weeknight market once a month.

Address: Beaver Creek Crossings; 1441 Beaver Creek Commons, Apex

Hours: The market’s normal hours begin in mid-April, when it is open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. The market offers winter hours from December to March, when it’s open biweekly from 9 a.m.-noon. Check specific hours for each vendor at apexfarmersmarket.com.

Wake Forest farmers markets

▪ Wake Forest Farmers Market — The Wake Forest Farmers Market began more than 20 years ago. The market requires vendors to grow or produce their goods within 75 miles of the market. Products offered by current vendors include vegetables, microgreens, various meats, mushrooms, honey, cut flowers, plants and more. The market is open year-round, with hours varying by season.

Address: 235 S. Taylor St., Wake Forest

Hours: The market’s regular season runs from April to September, when hours are Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon. From October to March, the market is in its winter season, and hours are Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon.

Morrisville farmers markets

▪ Western Wake Farmers Market — The Western Wake Farmers Market began in Cary in 2007, then moved to its permanent home in Morrisville in 2017. The market, which is open year-round on Saturdays, offers fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, baked goods, coffee, cheese, jam and more, plus live music at some points during the year.

Address: 280 Town Hall Dr., Morrisville

Hours: The Western Wake Farmers Market is open year-round. During the market’s regular season, which runs from April to November, the market is open from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. The market’s winter season runs from December to March, and hours during those months are Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon.

Durham farmers markets

▪ Durham Farmers Market — The Durham Farmers Market has been operating in downtown Durham since 1999, and became a year-round market in 2008. The market features more than 65 vendors selling fresh produce, artisanal foods and handcrafted wares. All products are grown or created within 70 miles of the market.

Address: The Pavilion at Durham Central Park; 501 Foster St., Durham

Hours: The Durham Farmers Market is open year-round, but hours depend on the season. The market’s main season runs from April to November, and during that time the market is open Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon. The market also offers a mid-week market on Wednesdays, which begins in 2023 on April 19. Winter market hours are Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Find more information about hours at the Durham Farmers Market at durhamfarmersmarket.com.

▪ Black Farmers Market — Operated by the same group that runs the Black Farmers Market in Raleigh, the Black Farmers Market also operates in Durham, rotating between the cities. The market features more than 30 Black-owned vendors, including farmers; health and wellness businesses; prepared food and beverage vendors; crafters and artisans.

Address: Hillside High School; 3727 Fayetteville Rd., Durham

Hours: The Black Farmers Market operates in Durham on the second Sunday of the month from 1-4 p.m. Check the market’s website at blackfarmersmkt.com for more information on when the 2023 market season will start. The market happens rain or shine.

▪ South Durham Farmers Market — The South Durham Farmers Market is open on Saturdays year-round, offering fresh and local produce, baked goods, honey, fish and more. The market also accepts SNAP.

Address: Greenwood Commons Shopping Center; 5410 N.C. 55, Durham

Hours: The market is open on Saturdays year-round, but hours vary by season. From April to October, the market is open 8 to 11 a.m. From November to March, the market is open 9 a.m. to noon.

Orange County farmers markets

▪ Carrboro Farmers Market — The Carrboro Farmers Market has been offering locally grown produce and other goods, including meats, eggs, cheeses, breads, pastries, woodwork, metalwork, pottery, woven rugs, baskets and more, for more than 40 years. All goods sold at the market are required to be produced within 50 miles of Carrboro, and market rules require the owner of each vendor business to be present at the market each week. The market also accepts SNAP and EBT.

Address: Carrboro Town Commons; 301 West Main St., Carrboro

Hours: The Carrboro Farmers Market is open Saturdays year-round and Wednesdays seasonally. For specific hours, visit carrborofarmersmarket.com.

▪ Chapel Hill Farmers Market — The Chapel Hill Farmers Market started in 2008. All of the market’s farmers and artisans live within 60 miles of Chapel Hill and bring fresh produce, farm products and crafts to market year-round. The market features a variety of vegetables, fruit, herbs, plants, flowers, eggs, meat, poultry, fish, cakes, pies and more.

Address: University Place; 201 S. Estes Drive, Chapel Hill. Due to ongoing construction at the market site, “the market will be along Fordham Blvd behind the Circle K,” the market’s website reads.

Hours: The market is open year-round. Summer hours, which run from April to October, are Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon and Tuesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. Winter hours are Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

▪ Eno River Farmers Market — Head to Hillsborough for this year-round market that offers fresh vegetables and fruit, cheese, pasture raised meat and eggs, wood fire baked goods, prepared foods and crafts from local growers and producers. The market features live music, arts and crafts activities, chef demonstrations and more.

Address: 144 E. Margaret Lane, Hillsborough

Hours: The Eno River Farmers Market operates year-round. From April to November, the hours are 8 a.m. to noon. From December to March, the hours are 10 a.m. to noon.

What’s in season at NC farmers markets?

Now that you have this information on where and when Triangle farmers markets are, you may be wondering — what can you actually get at the market, and at which time of year?

Using a helpful chart from the N.C. Department of Agriculture, we’ve compiled this list, organized by month, of when popular produce items are generally in-season from North Carolina growers.

▪ Year-round: Collards, herbs, peanuts, sweet potatoes

▪ January: Apples, carrots, spinach

▪ February: Apples, spinach

▪ March: Asparagus, greens, mushrooms, spinach

▪ April: Asparagus, broccoli, greens, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, radishes, romaine, snow pea tips, spinach, strawberries, turnips

▪ May: Beets, blueberries, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, green peas, greens, kale, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, napa, radishes, romaine, snow peas, snow pea tips, spinach, yellow squash, strawberries, turnips, zucchini

▪ June: Beets, blackberries, blueberries, bok choy, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, eggplant, green onions, greens, kale, mushrooms, mustard greens, napa, onions, peaches, peppers, plums, potatoes, radishes, raspberries, snap beans, snow peas, yellow squash, strawberries, sweet corn, tomatoes, turnips, zucchini

▪ July: Blackberries, blueberries, butterbeans, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrotes, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, eggplant, figs, garlic, green onion, greens, honeydew, nectarines, okra, onions, peaches, peppers, plums, potatoes, snap beans, sprite melons, yellow squash, sweet corn, tomatoes, watermelon, zucchini

▪ August: Apples, butterbeans, cabbage, cantaloupe, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, eggplants, figs, garlic, green onion, greens, honeydew, muscadine grapes, nectarines, okra, peaches, pears, peppers, plums, snap beans, sprite melon, yellow squash, sweet corn, tomatoes, watermelon, zucchini

▪ September: Apples, blackberries, cabbage, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, figs, green onion, greens, Indian corn, muscadine grapes, mushrooms, mustard greens, peaches, pears, persimmons, pumpkins, raspberries, snap beans, yellow squash, sweet corn, tomatoes, zucchini

▪ October: Apples, beets, bok choy, cabbage, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, greens, Indian corn, kale, lettuce, muscadine grapes, mushrooms, mustard greens, napa, pears, persimmons, pumpkins, radishes, raspberries, romaine, snow peas, snow pea tips, spinach, turnips

▪ November: Apples, beets, bok choy, cabbage, Christmas trees, cucumber, greens, Indian corn, kale, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, napa, pecans, radishes, romaine, snow peas, snow pea tips, spinach, turnips

▪ December: Apples, beets, bok choy, cabbage, carrots, Christmas trees, greens, kale, mustard greens, napa, pecans, spinach, turnips

This story was originally published March 1, 2022 at 6:00 AM.

Korie Dean

The News & Observer

919-335-8507

Korie Dean covers higher education in the Triangle and across North Carolina for The News & Observer, where she is also part of the state government and politics team. She is a graduate of the Hussman School of Journalism and Media at UNC-Chapel Hill and a lifelong North Carolinian.