Prepare for the Fourth of July at Durham Farmers' Market

Watermelons have arrived at Durham Farmers' Market just in time for the Fourth of July! This week a couple of farmers have reported that they will be bringing their first watermelons of the summer.  Be sure to get to the Market early for a good selection. Along with melons, there will be a plentiful amount of corn, tomatoes, squash, peaches, berries and fresh cuts of meats for grilling.

Another reason to get to the Market early? BEAT the HEAT! The next couple of days will be H.O.T.  WRAL's weather forecast predicts temperatures will get to 106 today and 105 tomorrow with a heat index of 115! If the temperature does get to 106, it will be the highest temperature EVER recorded at RDU. During heat waves like these, farming is not an easy line of work. Durham Farmers' Market's farmers definitely take precautions when it is this hot - they tend to do their field work early in the morning and late, they take breaks and drink lots and lots of water. 

Its not just the farmers who need to stay cool. Growing vegetables and fruits in extreme heat can be difficult. As soon as a vegetable is picked off the plant, it starts starts to lose water and deteriorate. Farmers work hard to preserve the freshness of their vegetables so that you, the consumer, get the highest quality possible. When a farmer harvests in the summer, they work to get the field heat out of the crops and cool them down as quickly as possible. Sometimes this means dunking a freshly harvested vegetable in cool water, covering them with wet towels or burlap, setting the crops in the shade, or transferring them to a cooler as quickly as possible. The hotter the temperatures, the more tricky it can be to keep the veggies and fruit in their top form for Market. Animal farmers also have to work extra hard in the heat to keep their animals cool, hydrated and healthy.

Along with the aforementioned Fourth of July picnic fixin's, there will be plenty of cold water available at the Market Info table in the center of the Pavilion. Be sure to stay hydrated. A couple of tents will be set out on the lawn so there are more shaded areas for resting.

Upcoming Events
Wednesday JULY 4th - WEDNESDAY MARKET WILL BE CLOSED
JULY 14th - NC 10% Campaign Event with a demo by Katie and Justin Meddis from the soon to open Rose's Meat Market and Sweet Shop
JULY 21st - ANNUAL TOMATO TASTING!  Chef Shane Ingram from Four Square Restaurant will be our host!

Fresh this Week
VEGETABLES:  JALAPENO PEPPERS, EDAMAME,  Arugula, Beets, Beans (Green, Yellow, Roma, Filet), Cabbage, Celery, Chinese Cabbage, Cherry Tomatoes, Corn, Collards, Cucumbers, Dandelion Greens, Eggplant,  Fennel, Frisee, Fresh Herbs (Basil, Cilantro, Mint, Rosemary, Oregano, Thyme, Parsley),  Green Onions, Garlic, Gourds, Mustard Greens, Kale, Lettuce, Leeks, Peppers - Sweet, Hot and Padron, Potatoes, Okra - Red and Green, Onions (Red, Yellow, Cippolini), Pea Shoots, Peppers (sweet), Salad Mix, Shiitake Mushrooms, Sweet Potatoes, Swiss Chard, Summer Squash, Tomatillos, Tomatoes, Turnips, Turnip Greens, Zucchini
FRUITS: WATERMELON!, Cantaloupe,  Raspberries, Peaches, Blackberries, Blueberries, last few Strawberries, 
MEATS AND EGGS: Beef, Bison, Chicken, Duck, Goat/Chevon, Lamb, Pork, Duck Eggs & Chicken Eggs
CHEESES: Fresh and aged cow and goats milk cheeses.
FLOWERS & PLANTS:  Lilies, Lisianthus, Gladiolus, Sunflowers, Zinnias,  Godetia, Black-Eyed Susan, Echinacea, Mixed Bouquets, Vegetable & Herb Seedlings, Landscaping Plants, House Plants
SPECIALTY ITEMS: New Crop of FLOUR, RAW HONEY, Pecans, Cornmeal, Grits, Baked Goods including Pies, Breads, Cookies, Pastries, Beer, Wine, Jams, Jellies, Pickles, Preserves, Wool
CRAFTS: Pottery, Jewelry, Stained Glass Art, Handmade Baskets,  Woodwork, Photographs, Hand-dyed Clothing and other items, Handmade Clothing, Soaps, Yarn, Roving, and much more...