Downtown Farmers Market Kicks Off with Pig Pickin’
The Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market season will kick off with a Pig Pickin’ event on Wednesday, April 28 from 10 am-2pm in the City Plaza. The event will feature festivities that showcase eastern North Carolina’s culture, cuisine, and agriculture. Enjoy authentic whole-hog, pit-cooked barbeque prepared by legendary Chef Ed Mitchell and fellow staffers from The Pit, learn barbeque secrets during Pitmaster Mitchell’s chef demonstration, listen to bluegrass music by Old Habits, and enjoy a kid-friendly gardening activity. The market opens at 10 am, but the official inauguration will begin at 11:15 am when Mayor Meeker rings the market’s opening bell.
The Pit’s barbeque sandwiches, prepared with pork from market vendor Poplar Creek Farm, will be available for $5. The Pit’s pork is made from free-range, hormone-free pigs that meet the rigorous standards of Animal Welfare Institute.
The new market is a reinvention of its predecessor, the Moore Square Farmers Market. Its relocation to City Plaza on Fayetteville Street places the market in the heart of downtown activity. In addition to the new location, the market has a new name, new look, and new website, RaleighEatLocal.com . Featuring the highest quality farmers and food artisans, the 2010 season will feature food festivals, chef demonstrations, tastings, and weekly entertainment. Farmers’ market veteran, Hallie Mittleman, will oversee the direction and management of the market. She has over eight years experience managing and founding urban farmers markets, including the award winning Portland Farmers Market in Oregon. Mittleman says, “This season’s lineup of vendors offers a wide array of fantastic farm fresh products. We look forward to the community’s support.”
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April 14th, 2010 at 9:32 am
Yea!!! Can’t wait to walk around on hot pavement in order to look at farm fresh products instead of that pesky old park setting underneath that ugly old tree in Moore Square. It’s almost as clever as thinking people want to watch movie’s on the pavement instead of on the grass in a park. Good job Raleigh.
April 14th, 2010 at 9:53 am
I have been to several urban outdoor food markets. One in DC was on a side street with trees in the distance. Then there is Union Square in NYC. Next to, not in the square and not under trees. Seems to be thriving.
Given that most vendors will have a canopy, I do not think it will be so bad. Also, let’s face it, that area is only so big. The vendors will fill in a lot of it. So unless they put out folding tables with no canopies (doubtful), they will benefit from being in the CENTER of downtown.
As a big supporter of downtown who does not live or work there, it would be great if they added some Saturday hours.