Five Points farmers market opens Saturday

Food feeds your soul. Food enriches a community. Despite what your opinions are about neighborhood schools, I would argue that we lost our sense of true community with the advent of mega grocery stores and super centers. We are blinded by the fluorescent lights, shrunken by towering end caps, lost in a maze of aisles, and beaten by time, forever in a rush. Gone are the days of meandering neighborhood sidewalks, popping into locally owned shops, chatting with neighbors. Gone are locally owned businesses with a personal touch and a friendly how-do-you-do. Gone are the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker. Gone is our sense of community in our everyday lives.

I love living where I can walk to do many of my errands and have date night options just a few steps away. Let me put it this way, I can enjoy dinner and a movie with my husband all within walking distance. Everything is close enough to dare to wear insensible shoes. Our few blocks pack a punch, but the best is yet to come. There's one thing I'm anticipating more than any furniture shop, restaurant, or shoe emporium.

My illustrious neighborhood, replete with sidewalks, charm, and old-fashioned neighborliness, will soon be home to Raleigh's newest farmers market. The Five Points Farmers Market kicks off its inaugural season this Saturday, May 1. Look for a host of fresh, local wares in the lower parking lot of Nofo @ The Pig at 2014 Fairview Rd. The market will be open every Saturday morning May 1 to October 30 from 8:00 - 12:00. Shoppers can buy a veritable treasure trove of fresh goodies like vegetables, berries, cheese, eggs, seafood, meat, cut flowers, jams, cakes, bread and a variety of other treats from visiting vendors (think wine, hot sauce, and the like).