Davidson Farmer's Market's season comes ends Nov. 1. Holiday markets will be Nov. 22 and Dec. 20. (David Boraks photo)Davidson Farmer's Market announcement

As the leaves change colors and farmers reap the last of their fall harvests, the Davidson Farmer’s Market is close to winding up its successful first season. The market will continue for the next three Saturday mornings until its finale on Nov. 1. But it won’t be done for the year: Two holiday markets are planned – just before Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Meanwhile, organizers are looking ahead to next year, recruiting new committee members, planning focus groups and preparing to hire a part-time market manager.

Due to popular demand, the market has scheduled holiday market days for Saturday, Nov. 22, and Saturday, Dec. 20. These bonus days will feature an assortment of cold weather vegetables including winter greens, sweet potatoes, winter squash, meats, baked goods, lavender products and more.

CHANGING OUR FOOD CULTURE

Over the past six months, the food culture in Davidson has undergone a significant change. The Davidson Farmer’s Market was launched in May and has brought a bounty of locally grown vegetables, meats, cheeses, flowers and more to the community.

Market co-chair Mary Jane Leach says there seemed to be an element of serendipity in the market’s founding and launch. “Everything came together nicely. The energy between the town, the farmers, customers and volunteers just worked.”

“All aspects of the community coming together as a whole have helped make the market’s first year a success,” Ms. Leach says.

Says Chris Arthurs of T & M Farm of Troutman: “This is the only market I’ve been to where there is no tension at all – the customers are great and there’s no competition between the farmers. … People thank us for being here!”

Although the market will take a hiatus, the organizing committee will still be hard at work throughout the winter. Strategic planning meetings are in the works, along with separate focus groups for customers and farmers.

The organizing committee also is looking for help. Market organizers invite people interested in marketing, promotion, web maintenance, grant writing and general data entry work to join in.

HIRING A MANAGER

Plans also are underway to hire a part-time market manager for the 2009 season.

“It is expected that year two of the DFM will solidify the market as an essential part of the Davidson landscape,” says Edie Surratt, the market’s co-chair. “If this year is any indication, it is well on its way.”

Mary Lib Richards, a frequent market patron, is sorry to see the market end for the season. “I’m going to miss it,” she says. “It’s become part of my Saturday routine!”

SPONSORS

The Davidson Farmer’s Market is an initiative of Downtown Davidson Inc. It runs Saturdays through Nov. 1 from 8 a.m. to noon, next to Davidson Town Hall between Main and Jackson streets

The following sponsors have made the 2008 season of the Davidson Farmer’s Market possible:

Market Properties, Inc, Davidson Lands Conservancy, DavidsonNews.net, Mayes Wilson & Associates, Baybridge Management, Knox Realty, Wellbeing Natural Health, Davidson Therapeutic Massage, Little Fish Marketing, Lake Norman Embroidery, Zimmerman Chiropractic, Lake Norman YMCA, Ginseng Junction Naturopathic Health Care, Réa Wright Counseling and Consulting, Summit Coffee, Pilates Studio at the Lake, Main Street Books, Davidson Family Medicine, and Vital Foods LLC.

Additional information about the Davidson Farmer’s Market is available at
www.davidsonfarmersmarket.org. To sign up for the market e-newsletter, please contact info@davidsonfarmersmarket.org.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

Oct. 1, 2008, “Sights, sounds at the Davidson Farmer’s Market” – an audio slide show about the market with interviews, photos and music from the market jam session.