Black Farmers’ Market brings growers, businesses, hundreds of supporters to SE Raleigh

Hundreds of customers lined up Sunday to shop at the Black Farmers’ Market, where 25 vendors sold fruit, vegetables, herbs, flowers and meat under tents near the Southeast Raleigh YMCA.

The Black Farmers’ Market has moved from a twice a year event to a twice monthly event alternating between Durham and Raleigh.

“Because of the climate, people are wanting a place to support Black businesses,” said Moses Ochola is Durham, one of the market co-founders.

Southeast Raleigh, which Ochola described as a food desert, was chosen with intent.

“We want to make sure we’re bringing the farmers market to the people, he said.

LaShauna Austria started Kindred Seedlings Farm with a small plot in Burlington. She has expanded from selling seedlings to include potted plants, vegetables, and herbal teas.

Austria and her son Malik Walker chatted about herbs and tea with a steady line of customers Sunday.

Austria said she started the farm about three years ago because of the lack of Black growers at the farmers market in Alamance. “It was part of my anti-racist journey, being liberated, and the importance of Black people growing their own food,” she said.

Austria’s grandmother died three years ago, contributing to Austria’s wish to connect to the land.

“I was thinking about food systems,” she said. “Who has access to food. Who makes money from food.” She said she has purchased 20 acres in Alamance and plans to begin farming that land.

‘Importance of growing our own food’

Erica Mays-Gordon of Knightdale made a special trip to shop at the market.

“If I can go to the farmers market in Raleigh, I can come out here and support my own people,” she said.

Mays-Gordon started her own vegetable and herb garden this year.

“I can see the importance of growing our own food,” she said.

An hour before the market was to close, the line to get in was wrapped around the YMCA. Organizers were controlling entry to encourage social distancing.

Mark Paylor is one of the Ms behind 4M Farms in Roxboro.

An array of yellow squash, broccoli, cucumbers, beets, and other vegetables from the 100-acre farm were arranged and waiting for customers.

Paylor said they’d been selling more to community-supported agriculture enterprises and wholesalers, but were drawn back into selling direct to customers with the Black Farmers’ Market.

“You can see Black folks growing produce that’s local,” he said.

‘Sometimes we struggle with support’

Tara Dobbin of Raleigh, while waiting in line to get in to the market, showed the special tote bag she made for the occasion that said “Shopping 2 Support Our Community Our Future Our Culture Black Business.”

Dobbin said she planned to shop for natural products and collect business cards.

She said she’s seen one or two Black vendors at the State Farmers Market and wanted on Sunday to see the bounty from Black-owned farms and support Black businesses, “to help our culture out,” she said. “Sometimes we struggle with support, to have people buy products and such.”

This story was originally published June 28, 2020 at 5:09 PM.