This Week at the Durham Farmers' Market

After a much-needed break over Thanksgiving weekend, the Durham Farmers' Market is back in full swing! Tomorrow, we switch over to our Winter Hours - 10am to Noon!

The Durham Farmers' Market hasn't always been open in the winter time, so here is a brief history of how our winter hours came to be...

In the winter of 2005, a handful of Durham Farmers' Market's meat and egg farmers, bakers and crafters had product available during the winter months, so they set up shop in Central Park School's cafeteria every other Saturday morning. Along with the the meat, eggs, baked goods, crafts, there were a handful of cheeses and winter veggies available. Every time Market was open, Durhamites, hungry for local food, quickly snapped up all of what the vendors had to offer.

In response to Durham's demand for local food in the winter months, more farmers began planting crops in greenhouses and sunny, warm, south-facing fields for a winter harvest. Farmers' started building more greenhouses on their farms specifically for wintertime production. Some farmers have even shifted their focus to growing vegetable crops in the colder months. In 2007, we outgrew Central Park School's cafeteria and moved our winter time operation into our newly built home - the Pavilion!

Over the last 7 years, the Market's wintertime presence has been grown explosively. In 2006, there were fewer than 10 vendors that came each week. This year, you can expect to find over 45 farmers, bakers, specialty food producers and crafters to come to the Market each week. In fact, 2 farms will only be coming to the Market from December to March. Heeks Farm in Bahama and Root Down Farm in Cedar Grove have honed their winter growing skills and will have a wide range of vegetables over the next few months. Along with Heeks and Root Down, you'll see some familiar faces from the Wednesday Market including Melina's Fresh Pasta, Big Spoon Roasters, Imagine That Gluten Free and occasionally Tempeh Girl will be there!

Like with everything at the Durham Farmers' Market, we wouldn't be what we are today, with out such great customers! Thank your constant support of the hard work your local farmers and artisans do to bring you food and so much more each week.

Now, a couple of things to remember:

1. During the Winter Months (Dec.-March), the Market is only open from 10am to Noon. Rain, Shine, Sleet or Snow! 
2. In the winter, the Market starting with the ringing of the Opening Bell! It will ring at 10am on the nose. You are welcome to browse, talk to farmers and ask them to set aside items for you.
3. During the Winter time, vendors shift to different spaces. If you are having a hard time finding your favorite vendors, please stop by the Market Info Table at the center of the Pavilion - we can direct you and give you a map to help you find them.

On Saturday, during Market, Durham Parks and Rec will be setting up their annual Holiday Fun Fest in the Park! The winter festivities will start at 1pm.

See you at the Market,
Erin Kauffman
Market Manager
Follow DFM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Fresh this Week....
FRUITS: A FEW KIWIS!, Asian Persimmons
VEGETABLES: Acorn Squash, Arugula, Beets, Broccoli, Broccoli Raab, Brussels Sprouts, Bok Choi, Butternut Squash, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Chinese Cabbage, Cress, Collards, Daikon Radish, Dandelion Greens, Delicata Squash, Fennel, Fresh & Dried Herbs (Cilantro, Mint, Rosemary, Oregano, Thyme, Sorrel, Parsley), Frisee, Galangal, Green Onions, Garlic, Ginger, Gourds, Jerusalem Artichokes, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Mache, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Peppers, Potatoes, Pea Shoots, Pumpkins, Radicchio, Radishes, Salad Mix, Shiitake Mushrooms, Spaghetti Squash, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Sweet Potatoes, Tat Soi, Greenhouse Grown Tomatoes, Turmeric, Turnips, Turnip Greens, Winter Squash, and more
MEATS AND EGGS:  Beef, Bison, Chicken, Duck, Goat/Chevon/Cabrito, Lamb, Pork, Veal, Rabbit
Duck Eggs & Chicken Eggs
CHEESES: Fresh and aged COW and GOAT milk cheeses.
PLANTS: Bedding Plants, and House Plants.
FLOWERS: HOLIDAY GREENERY, Asian Lilies, Dried Bouquets
SPECIALTY ITEMS: Raw Honey, Pasta, Flour, Cornmeal, Grits, Baked Goods including Pies, Breads, Cookies & Pastries, Fermented Foods, Beer, Wine, Jams, Jellies, Pickles, Preserves, Wool
CRAFTS: Pottery, Jewelry, Handmade Baskets, Woodwork, Photographs, Hand-dyed Clothing and other items, Handmade Clothing, Goats Milk Soaps, Body Butters, Lotions, Yarn, Roving, and much more...

Produce availability depends on weather conditions