Fresh produce, shopping, dining & more: Your guide to the State Farmers Market🍑
The North Carolina State Farmers Market is so much more than just a farmers market.
It boasts 30,000 square feet for North Carolina farmers to sell fresh produce, plants and other specialty items produced on local farms.
The farmers market said visitors can find the freshest and widest variety of produce and plants in the area. You can also buy plants at the market, starting in March.
The indoor Market Shoppes have plenty of room to shop in the 15,600-square-foot building. Visitors can find everything from crafts and custom picture framing to gifts, old-fashioned candies and N.C. wines.
Not only is there a farmers market, but visitors can also enjoy dining in at one of the market's three different restaurants.
The main restaurant, known as the "Market," offers fresh, home-cooked meals – featuring "real biscuits," fresh vegetables, pork, poultry and other North Carolina-based products.
Nestled in the back of the State Farmers Market, NC Seafood Restaurant offers seafood lovers delicious, traditional fried Calabash-style seafood.
You can also stop by the Market Grill by Carolina Crispy Fry for breakfast or lunch.
For more information about the shops and restaurants at the State Farmers Market, go to ncagr.org.
The history of the State Farmers Market
Prior to WWII, most North Carolina farmers sold their produce at various stands, with no central location for congregating and connecting with the community.
The State Farmers Market Restaurant shared some of the market's history on their website, writing that "in 1955 the very first State Farmers Market was constructed on a 17-acre site by a private developer."
The establishment of the State Farmers Market led to an increase in the volume of fruits and vegetables grown in eastern and central North Carolina, according to an N&O article written in the 1960s. Having a centralized location for all farmers to sell their products and connect directly with the public provided a major boost to local farms.
"By the mid 1970s, the old State Farmers Market had grown beyond its capacity and had become unable to accommodate the swelling number of sellers and buyers," according to the State Farmers Market Restaurant.
The NCDA dairy farm near Dorothea Dix Hospital was chosen as the new site, offering easy access to I-40 and plenty of space for growth. While many locals express nostalgia for the original location, the State Farmers Market's more central location is no doubt more accessible and central as Raleigh continues to grow and expand.
The State Farmers Market still holds down local traditions.
And while many people remember the old watermelon seed-spitting contests and fresh summer peaches from decades ago, the market still offers Watermelon Days, with contests for largest watermelon, free samples and a visit with the Watermelon Queen.
They also hold summer events like Blueberry Day, featuring enough samples of blueberries and blueberry ice cream to stain your fingertips blue.
And true to their heritage, the State Farmers Market still celebrates their fresh peaches on Peach Day, with samples of NC peaches and a peach dessert contest.
The farmers market is open Monday through Saturday from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking is free.
Pets are not allowed inside any of the market buildings, sheds or shops. However, pets are welcome in the outdoor market areas.
The North Carolina State Farmers Market is located at 1201 Agriculture Street, on the corner of Lake Wheeler Road and Centennial Parkway in Raleigh. If you're coming from Interstate 40, take Exit 297 for Lake Wheeler Road then head northeast on Lake Wheeler Road. You'll see the market on the left in half a mile.
