The Olde Beaufort Farmers’ Market will return to its roots under the live oak trees at the Carteret County Courthouse on Saturday, April 16 from 9 am – 1 pm. They will be celebrating their ninth season in 2022.

It’s clear that locals, visitors and boaters alike have enjoyed the fruits (and vegetables) of their labor year after year. The crowds gets larger each year.  This year will be no exception.

On Opening Day, you can expect about 55 excited and well-prepared vendors! Shoppers will find fresh greens and veggies, free range chicken, duck, and eggs, fresh homemade baked goods and treats, and high quality art and craftwork from local artisans to their marketplace under the live oaks.

Last year, sales from vendors topped the $1M mark for the first time. Not bad for an average of 47 vendors per market! These sales went directly into the pockets of our grateful, hardworking, small business farmers, foodies, and artisans from all over Carteret County.

For farmers like Joe Merrell of JW Merrell Farm, the farmer’s market is a great place for him to connect with his customers. Merrell and his family own Carteret County’s only Century Farm in Beaufort.

Several farmers will bring fresh microgreens of all sorts, organically grown vegetables, and beautiful bedding plants for shoppers to purchase for their own gardens.

Here’s what you can expect to see at the market…

• The market welcomes children and friendly pets. Most markets include activities for children and families enjoy bringing their well-behaved dogs to the market also.
• The market is usually filled with approximately 40 vendors – both farmers and artisans.
• You can expect a food truck and the sounds of music coming from the Live Vibe Stage.

You can show your support for the Olde Beaufort Farmers’ Market by purchasing their Collectible Posters. These are available each Saturday at the Welcome Tent. The prints are $15, and framed for $30.

“We will have a new 2022 collectible poster for sale at the market this year, according to Cindy Bunch, market manager. “We began this series in 2017 and have a new posted created each year for a beautiful collection,” she said.

The market will run through November 19th. The organization will take a short break and reopen for their 8th Annual Olde Fashioned Holiday Market on the evening of December 17, 2022.

The market is free and open to the public. For more information on the Olde Beaufort Farmers’ Market, visit their website at www.beaufortfarmersmarket.com.

The market was founded by a small group of local and Carteret County farmers, with support from the Town of Beaufort and the Carteret County Board of Commissioners. While their support made this market possible, it has been the community support that made the weekly market successful.

Since its inception, the market has delivered as promised. People attending the market have enjoyed fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, pasture-raised chickens, fresh local shrimp and more. In all, over 40 food producers and artists participate over the course of the season – some part-time and full-time. Visitors to The Crystal Coast soon discovered locally produced farm-fresh food from right here in Carteret County.

The Olde Beaufort Farmers’ Market recently received kudos from a national publication. When Beaufort was named one of “America’s Favorite Towns” by Travel & Leisure magazine, the writer had this to say about the market, “Beaufort also draws raves for local flavors: visitors can shop for just-picked pears, farm-fresh cheeses, and handmade crafts under majestic oak trees at highly rated farmers’ markets.”

The farmers will do their best to continue to make the Olde Beaufort Farmers’ Market grow again in 2022. After all, that’s what farmers do. They make things grow.  The ninth season will be no exception.

WHEN YOU GO:

Dates:  Opening Day –  April 16, 2022, every Saturday til’ mid-November.

Hours:  9 am – 1 pm

Price:  Free admission

Parking:  Free parking around the County Courthouse

Address: Carteret County Courthouse, 300 Courthouse Square, Beaufort, NC, 28516.

Website:   www.oldebeaufortfarmersmarket.org

Mailing Address:  Olde Beaufort Farmers’ Market, PO Box 1028, Beaufort, NC 28516.

Questions?  Call 252-564-8822 or email oldebeaufortfarmersmarket@gmail.com.

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