It is always healthy to eat fresh produce straight from the garden.  And it is always pleasurable to purchase and support local farmers.  Sometimes it is just a matter of finding those who are sponsored through the NC Agricultural Extension to assure that the produce is bona fide.

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We can all contribute to the local food markets by attending the many farm tours and produce arenas available.

The old-time practice of preserving and canning is becoming a lost art, so why not try to purchase fresh fruit when-in-season and prepare pies, jams, and jellies.  Mom & M’s is an example, serving local homemade preserves.

We should keep in mind that while agriculture has been generally stable as a whole, it is not without its economic shortfalls.  Many farmers have suffered financially along with many other businesses.  In the past five years, North Carolina lost 1,000 farms and more than 600,000 acres of farmland, according to the most recent Census of Agriculture.  The question becomes, “How will our economy adjust to a higher population and less farmers and land on which to grow their food and fiber?”

A thought provoking statement was made by Larry Wooten, NCFB President.  “When our farmers go out of business, where will your family’s next meal come from –Africa, China, India, Mexico, South America, Vietnam?”

The National Electric Cooperatives recognize the need to support farmers by eating fresh.  The Raleigh organization held an event for employee awareness and invited local farmers from surrounding communities to sell their produce.  A luncheon of fresh produce was   given to employees, with some cooked and other raw foods.

It’s time to return to basics, save money, eat fresh, eat healthy, eat local, and support our farmers, not taking them for granted.  This can be achieved by becoming a part of farm tours that offer information and produce to all who attend.  Rolesville is fortunate to be surrounded by a slew of farming towns: Knightdale, Zebulon, Franklin, Wendell, Wake Forest, and Raleigh.  After all, it was the fertile soil that originally attracted farmers to the Rolesville area, and contrary to popular belief, there remain acres of landscape that offer the availability of produce.  Let’s hope that Rolesville offers residents more opportunities by supplying a bevy of new agricultural businesses in the future.

Farmers’ Markets offer a variety of produce.  There are also individuals who offer produce to consumers.

Barrett’s Produce, located at 825 S. Main Street, next door to Aquarium Outfitters in Wake Forest, offers produce seven days each week.  “This is a great place,” said Sandra Collins, who has worked for the roadside stand more than five years.  “The farm produces a variety of foods.”  Unfortunately, when the owner, Barrett Hudson, died two years ago, his father decided to sell the business to Charles Tart of Tart Farms in Dunn.  “The name will remain the same,” said Collins, “and we will continue to offer fresh produce.”

June 13th has been proclaimed Weed The Garden Day.  Hal Gurley, of The Collard Patch, takes that seriously.  Deemed as a Certified Roadside Farm Market, Gurley’s prime labor is to “keep the fields clear of weeds and debris and to produce good crops,” he says.  Located at 7012 Pulley Town Road, Gurley is still selling fresh strawberries.  Large sweet onions are currently available, along with fresh cabbage. “I have fields planted with corn, peas, collards, and sweet potatoes, butter beans, okra, squash, and silver queen sweet corn, broccoli, turnips, and mustard greens. “It’s like going to your grandparents’ garden,” he said.

With their father overlooking a magnificent tree farm, Ellis and Jake Privette offer pumpkins and corn stalks later in the season.
With June 17th proclaimed as Eat Your Vegetable Day, it is an easy task to select from several local farmers.

The Franklin County Farm Foods Tour was extremely educational.  Farmers opened their landscapes to visitors who, in turn, realized the magnitude of the farm industry.  At the end of the day, the experience of eating local fresh cooked foods and produce was amazing and brought the idea of fresh, local, and healthy foods to everyone’s plate.
Many farmers offer goat milk and fresh eggs.  Loxley Abbey, in Raleigh, offers visitors the best eggs and goat’s milk daily.  Children can pet and work with the animals.
Many fruits exist on the farm: peaches, berries, cherries, plums, and several other types of homegrown fruits.  If we focus on just one fruit, we can look back in history at blackberries and savor the taste of blackberry cobbler, blackberry dumplings, and blackberry preserves.

In the long run, it doesn’t matter where you live.  What does matter is that you eat local and eat fresh.  To support farmers is the core of our existence.  Contact your County Extension Agent for a list of farms and farmers where you can select and purchase from varieties of produce, including fresh eggs, milk, and other items that your body will most certainly appreciate.

• The Collard Patch: Open Monday – Saturday 8am – dark. Sunday 12:00pm – 5pm
• Privette Farms:  For further information: 556-3300   12224 Louisburg Road
• Loxley Abbey Farms:  2401 Old Milburnie Rd.  373-99794
• Barrett’s Produce:  Open daily 825 S. Main St. Wake Forest – beside Aquarium Outfitters.

By Anita B. Stone

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