The Holly Springs Farmers Market reopens Saturday, May 2 for a ninth season of fresh produce and an expanding variety of locally-made food favorites. The season opener kicks off with a ribbon-cutting by Mayor Dick Sears at 8:30 a.m. The market will be held every Saturday through October 10 in the parking lot across Main Street from Town Hall.
“Our market vendors bring quality locally grown farm-fresh food to the downtown Village District, attracting a very loyal weekly customer base,” said Gina Clapp, director of the Town’s Department of Planning & Zoning, which manages the market. “We see an average of more than 800 customers each week and more than 2,000 on days we have special events. Our vendors say we have the most customers who actually come to shop than any other market they are involved with.”
The Farmers Market has come a long way since it opened in 2006 to become a favorite family-friendly event in Holly Springs. Each season the market’s customer base grows. Last year, more than 20,000 customers visited the vibrant market on Main Street, which offers some of the freshest produce and specialty foods in the Triangle. The market offers meats, a variety of baked goods and prepared foods, local roasted coffee, homemade ice cream, popcorn, nuts, a variety of jams and jellies, mustard, pickles, sauces – even homemade dog treats. Completing the market experience are all natural bath and body vendors.
The market includes 60 events throughout the season – live music and kid-friendly activities each week, monthly cooking demonstrations, garden chats and much more.
This year’s special events include two Park-It in the Market food truck rodeos. The first, scheduled for June 27, features breakfast food trucks. The second Park-It in the Market food truck rodeo is slated for Aug. 29.
Two document shredding events are planned with one confirmed for Sept. 26. A blood drive, a new event, is scheduled in August. The season ends Oct. 10 with the annual Chili Cook-off.
The Holly Springs Farmers Market itself has consistently ranked in the American Farmland Trust contest for your Favorite Farmers Market. Just last year, the market was named North Carolina’s Top Celebrated Farmers Market and in the top 10 nationally. The Holly Springs Farmers Market also was also voted one of the best North Carolina farmers markets in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
The market is supported by sponsors, including this year’s blue ribbon sponsor, GMA Supply. Located in the Holly Springs Business Park, GMA began as an online business selling door hardware and plumbing fixtures. Now in business for more than 12 years, they have expanded into a full service, turnkey enterprise selling building tools and equipment, windows, doors, and more.
Visit www.HSFarmersMarket.com for harvest and event schedules and other information.
