Moore Square Farmers Market Opens Wednesday

Those of us doing our part to ease global warming by reducing our carbon footprint need to purchase more locally grown food instead of items shipped from thousands of miles away. That's about to get a bit easier for those of us who live or work in or near downtown Raleigh.

On Wednesday, July 12, the Moore Square Farmers Market will hold its grand opening. Organized by the Downtown Raleigh Alliance with help from the N.C. Cooperative Extension, the market will take place every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Moore Square Park at the intersection of Blount and Martin streets. Among the locally produced items offered for sale will be fruits and vegetables, pasture-raised meats, breads, cheeses and ice cream.

"We believe that a farmer’s market is a key component to a successful and vibrant community, so we're thrilled to bring this to our increasingly lively downtown this year," says DRA President and CEO Nancy Hormann. The DRA will give the first 50 shoppers to visit the market on opening day a free insulated bag to keep their purchases cool.

The Moore Square Farmers Market has strict quality-control guidelines to help customers know where the food they purchase comes from. Participating farmers must reside within 90 miles of the market, except for those producing specialty items unavailable locally, such as apples from the North Carolina mountains. In addition, farmers must either attend the market themselves or send an employee of the farm who works with the products at least once a week. In this way, the market's organizers hope to give customers direct contact with farmers and encourage conversation about how the products were cultivated and the best ways of storage and preparation.

Profiles in Energy Independence

This week's Independent Weekly newspaper features a cover story I wrote profiling hopeful initiatives here in the Triangle region to promote independence from dirty, dangerous energy sources. It was great fun to report and an honor to meet and talk with the folks doing such important work.