Rooter, a 7-month-old potbelly pig, paid a visit to the Davidson Farmers Market Saturday morning. Owner Nina Amick gives him a treat after he showed his skill at spinning around. Another photo below. (David Boraks photo)

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Jessica Newton has been a grange member most of her life. “I never grew up on a farm, I’ve always lived in a town, and I’ve always been a member,” she says. Now as a Davidson resident and membership director for the N.C. State Grange, she’ll be at Davidson Farmers Market Saturday talking up starting a chapter of the grange here in town. Read the full story

Event at Beaver Dam offers rare regional foods in 10 courses

Slow Food Carolina Piedmont Region press release

Critically endangered foods, such as meat from the Red Wattle Hog and the American Chinchilla Rabbit as well as fruits like American Heirloom Pears, will be the focal point of a unique dining experience this May, The Ark of Taste: A Slow Food Feast.

Ten top North Carolina chefs will present 10 courses, each featuring a rare regional food at a celebratory dinner on Saturday, May 16, 6 p.m., at Beaver Dam Park, off Davidson-Concord Road. The event is a fund-raiser for the local Slow Food chapter and local farmer’s markets, including Davidson Farmers Market. Read the full story

Natalie Veres and Cassie Parsons run Grateful Growers farm. They'll be at the May 16 slow food feast and are regulars at the Davidson Farmers Market. ( David Boraks photo)

An organization of local-food enthusiasts called Slow Food Carolina Piedmont Region plans a local food feast and fund-raiser Saturday, May 16, in Davidson to help pay for its own activities and to support local farmers’ markets. The USA Ark of Taste event at Davidson’s Beaver Dam park will feature top North Carolina chefs and a local chocolatier preparing a 10-course meal of local food. (Details below.)

In other food-related news:

• Spring vegetables will be available as Davidson Farmer’s Market hosts another winter tailgate market Saturday morning, 9-11, in the parking lot next to Town Hall.
• Davidson Outdoors will host a “Wild Food Class” with expert Mark Warren on April 18 and 19 at the college.

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The Davidson Farmers Market will become part of Davidson Lands Conservancy April 1 and the market committee is pursuing separate nonprofit status in a shift that follows recent organizational changes at the market’s current sponsor, Downtown Davidson Inc. Read the full story

(watch part 2 of the video below)

FAMILIAR FACES

The growth of a new awareness about food in the region, the success of the Davidson Farmers Market and the rise of new statewide and local efforts to change our food system have many in Davidson thinking about where our food comes from. Cabarrus County Government Channel has produced a 20-minute video called “Farm to Fork: A Local Food Initiative” that is airing on cable government channels across the region this month. The video includes some speakers who will be familiar to Davidson residents, and talks about a statewide effort underway to promote local farms and food. To watch the YouTube version Part 1 click on start button above and Part 2 click on the start button below. Or watch the entire video (Windows Media Player version) on the Cabarrus Government Channel website.

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With five Saturdays left in its first season of operation, the Davidson Farmers Market has been a success for both shoppers and the local farmers and vendors who participate, organizers say. About 300 people visit on a typical weekend, co-chair Mary Jane Leach said. The market has brought new life to downtown on Saturday mornings, where shoppers can be found strolling on Main Street and slipping into local stores. At Summit Coffee, sales are up, and the manager reports they’ve even added staff to handle the traffic.

Catch the market’s sights and sounds in this 7 minute, 22 second audio slide show. Our thanks to the musicians of the market’s Lake Norman Jam for the background music. Click on the video to play. Can’t see the video or is it too fuzzy? Go directly to the YouTube page and watch the high-resolution version.

Christy Shi

Christy Shi has been studying the sources of our food supply and the feasibility of eating more locally. She’s the founder of Local Food Club, a group of about 45 families who buy directly from area farms. She talked with DavidsonNews.net‘s David Boraks about local food, her buying club and the Davidson Farmer’s Market. (Click the play button to start. Can’t see the button or hear the interview? CLICK HERE>)

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(MP3 format, 4 min. 25 sec.)