NCDA&CS to host three workshops focused on growing local farmers

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ popular Farmers Market Manager workshops are returning, with one-day sessions scheduled in February and March for Raleigh, Jacksonville and Lexington.
The workshops—geared toward market managers, their board members and market vendors—will cover such topics as customer service, farmers market food safety and grant opportunities. A question-and-answer session with other market managers will also be on the program. The workshops are sponsored in part by a grant from The North Carolina Tobacco trust Fund Commission.
All workshops will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Following is the workshop schedule:
• Feb. 24 at the Gov. James G. Martin Building, State Fairgrounds
• March 16 at the Onslow County Cooperative Extension Office, Jacksonville
• March 30 at the Davidson County Cooperative Extension Office, Lexington
“Statewide, we have seen strong growth and interest in local and regional farmers markets, which offer great opportunities for farmers to sell their products directly to the consumer,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “We want to help these markets thrive, and these workshops provide good material and ideas for market managers and leaders.”
Cost for each workshop is $20, and covers materials and lunch. Pre-registration is required. Deadlines are Friday, Feb. 17, for the February workshop, Friday, March 9, for the March 16 workshop and Friday, March 23, for the March 30 event.
For more information, contact Kevin Hardison at (919) 707-3123 or at kevin.hardison@ncagr.gov, or Annette Dunlap at (919) 707-3117 or annette.dunlap@ncagr.gov.

Southern Village holds holiday craft and gift market

The businesses of Southern Village and the Southern Village Farmers Market are pleased to announce the Farmers Market’s last hurrah—the annual Holiday Craft & Gift Market. The special holiday shopping event will take place on Sunday, Dec. 4, from 1 to 4 p.m., and will feature the hand-crafted gifts of 20 vendors. The event will take place in the usual Farmers Market location on Aberdeen Drive at Market Street in Chapel Hill.
Holiday shoppers who want to find unique gifts while keeping their money in our local economy will be pleased to find an appealing assortment of items, ranging from hand-crafted food gifts to goats milk soaps & shampoos, to wood cutting boards, jewelry, dog and cat accessories, children’s clothing, tutus and accessories, and birdhouses. There will also be books by local authors and music CD’s from local musician Danny Gotham. Valley View Farm will be here with their Angus beef & pork products for your holiday menus. Big Bundts will have an assortment of freshly-baked, holiday-themed baked goods and will provide pick-up of previously placed special orders.
Honeycutt Trees will be on the Village Green again this year selling Christmas trees, wreaths and garlands, fresh from the North Carolina Mountains.
We’ll be providing KidsZone fun for children, complimentary light refreshments for our shoppers and a free gift bag or basket to shoppers spending $25 or more (while supplies last.)
The event will also be a benefit for PORCH, the local non-profit organization that provides food to hungry families in our community. Collection baskets will be on-site at the market, and visitors are encouraged to bring canned goods or other non-perishable food items to donate.
Visit us online at www.southernvillage.com/events for a complete listing of vendors and what they’ll be selling at the market. Visit www.porchnc.org to learn about this organization. Visit www.bigbundts.com to place an order for baked goods.

Location: Aberdeen Drive at Market Street, Southern Village, Chapel Hill, NC
Date & Time: Sunday, December 4th, 1 – 4 pm
Admission: FREE
Contact bcarr@mcarolina.com with any questions.
Inclement weather announcement: In the event of a weather cancellation, an announcement will be posted on our website and on our Facebook page (Market Street Southern Village.)

Sell your wares at the Burlington Farmers' and Crafters' Market!

Local farmers, artisans, crafters, bakers, sweet makers and other creative types are cordially invited to apply for vendor space in the 2011 Burlington Farmers' & Crafters' Market which will open in May.
The Market is hosted by Burlington Outlet Village and takes place on Sunday afternoons from 1 tp 5 p.m.
For details, please e-mail our Market Manager, Kim Draluck, at cornerstonecraft@bellsouth.net
A vendor application can be downloaded from our website here.