Fuquay-Varina is the embodiment of big-town amenities with a small-town feel. The town is home to corporations and small businesses, good schools, beautiful parks, and a great sense of community. Did you also know, Fuquay-Varina has its own Growers Market? Not just a place to buy local produce, the Growers Market of Fuquay-Varina offers something for everyone.
Every Saturday from April to Labor Day, local vendors meet in the parking lot of the Fuquay-Varina Chamber of Commerce. Their goal is to sell produce, bakery, flowers, and handmade crafts, but they also offer an opportunity to visit with old friends, entertain the kids, greet new neighbors, and enjoy a morning of fun in our special community. If that is not enough to entice you to this outdoor, family-friendly event, the Growers Market also offers cooking demonstrations, music, children’s activities like face-painting, and health information for youth and seniors.
James and Pauline Burns bring their daughter Bella, along with their dog Winston, to the Growers Market regularly. They like to support the local business and enjoy the face-to face interaction.
“There is a great variety of vendors and we like buying direct,” said James and Pauline. “It’s a great outing for the whole family.” Bella says she likes bringing Winston to visit all the vendors.
The Growers Market began in 2015 with a three-year grant. When the grant funds ended and COVID-19 started, the Growers Market was forced to close. In 2021, the Poe Center, a local non-profit organization that provides health education to youth and adults empowering them to make choices that increase positive health behaviors, decided to revive the Growers Market as a project that fit their mission of providing education and access to healthy or nutritious foods.
Dana Orr, interim market manager of the Growers Market and assistant director of nutrition and physical activity at the Poe Center, describes the market as a community working together. “For many, the Growers Market is a Saturday routine,” said Dana. “It’s a meet-up spot for families, seniors, and friends walking their dogs. They’re supporting local growers and vendors, then they walk downtown and support the local businesses. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
Over the next couple of years, Dana would like to see the Growers Market become an even bigger event with more vendors and children’s activities. She would also like to extend the hours of operation so more families can benefit from the numerous offerings.
On any given Saturday at the Growers Market, you can find vendors selling produce, candles, bakery, and homemade crafts. Many of the local farmers bring fresh fruits and vegetables to sell. This produce is much fresher than what is sold in the stores because it has not travelled from far-away farms, and the farmer can wait until the produce is ripe to pick it.
Another benefit of buying at the Market is the price. The farmer sells directly to the customer often for less than grocery store prices. EBT benefits are also accepted.
If you have a sweet tooth, you will not be left out at the Growers Market. After you pick up your fruits and vegetables, there are plenty of sweet treats to choose from. Donnie Hayes, of Forever Sweets Bakery, is retired and operates his bakery business in his home. He has found success over the past five years selling his pound cakes, cookies, jams, and other treats at the Growers Market.
“This is a good venue for me,” said Donnie. “It’s close to home and not expensive to be a vendor.”
Manali Shah, of Crumble and Flakes, feels the same way. She has been selling breads and other bakery items at the Growers Market for more than a year.
“I love my community and I think they are doing a great job supporting local businesses,” said Manali.
The Growers Market coordinators hope the community agrees. The tagline for the Growers Market is Come Grow with Us. Truly, the Growers Market of Fuquay-Varina is a community-supported program. For the market to be a success, it takes vendors to sell items, community businesses to support expenses, and community members to attend.
How to get involved
Become a business sponsor. Businesses are needed to provide funding for the operating expenses. Currently, the market is open in spring and summer. With an increase in funding, the market could be open year-round, providing vendors with additional income and the community with fun, healthy options for the whole family.
Become a partner. Businesses are needed to provide in-kind donations, helping to off-set expenses.
Become a volunteer. Volunteers are needed to help at the information table, for set-up and clean-up before and after, and to help with children’s activities.
Become a donor. Individual donations are always welcome and help to cover expenses incurred.
Become a vendor. Licensed business owners are welcome to fill out an application and pay a low fee to become a Growers Market vendor. All applications will be reviewed by the board of directors for the Growers Market to ensure the business meets the standards set by the State of North Carolina. Vendor applications can be found at the Growers Market website FVGrowersMarket.com
The Growers Market is an example of how the Town of Fuquay-Varina has grown while sustaining a small-town atmosphere. The Town has a great mix of large businesses and local, community member-run businesses. Residents and visitors who enjoy the unique offerings of home-based and small businesses can find much to pique their interest at the Growers Market.
Carolyn Dockery, Growers Market attendee, put it nicely when she said, “It is always a good thing when you can buy local and support local businesses.” The Growers Market of Fuquay-Varina offers the perfect opportunity to do just that.
You can find more information about the Growers Market of Fuquay-Varina on their web site, FVGrowersMarket.com, or on their Facebook page, Facebook.com/FVGrowersMarket.
About the Poe Center
The Alice Aycock Poe Center for Health Education is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating and empowering North Carolina’s children, youth, and their families to make choices that increase positive health behaviors.
Since establishing its field-trip destination in Raleigh in 1991, the Poe Center has provided health education to over 1.3 million children throughout North Carolina. By engaging in fun, highly interactive lessons, preschoolers through twelfth graders receive information that follows the NC DPI Healthful Living Essential Standards on a variety of health topics, including nutrition, dental health, general health, family life, bullying prevention, substance use prevention, and mental health.
For additional information about the Poe Center, please visit www.poehealth.org.
