Prices at the State Farmers Market (Raleigh, Durham: for sale, chapel, new house)

[freshjiv]

Yes, I know where to get them, my 6 foot tall german johnson plant growing in my garden that has a good 15-20 large tomatoes on it currently!!

Originally Posted by majidmo

I also tried a German Johnson tomato for the first time last week and it is unbelievable. Anyone know of any where else to get hold of them? I live close to Southpoint mall.

[KFran]

my csa offers:

red tomatoes $2.50/lb
red roma tomatoes $2.50/lb
yellow roma tomatoes $2.50/lb
pink girl tomatoes $3.00/lb (low acid)
red cherry tomatoes $2.50/pt
yellow cherry tomatoes $2.50/pt
canning tomatoes $20.00/box
red roma tomatoes in bulk $20.00/box

[librarySue]

Speaking of the Crazy Lady produce stand, are there any other places like that around? anyone know of an online listing for local produce options? If I don't necessarily have time to get to the Farmer's Market, and just want to pick up a few things on my way home, where do I go? I thought I would see places on the roadside and I just haven't. (I'm staying in Morrisville, driving MLK parkway to work in Durham, and moving into my house off Dixie Trail this weekend)

I confess, I have been here since June 6 and still not bought anything from a farmer! How embarrassing!

I do have a trip planned to the Farmer's Market this weekend with the exlaws.

[myNC]

Wow! These prices seem expensive compared to the Grocery stores around

[Mussakka]

I find the Farmer's Market is hit or miss on pricing. You can get some really good deals, but a lot of times the prices are higher than I'd expect.

While this may not be true, I think the main advantage to the FM over grocery stores is that produce is riper, there are more varieties and cultivars, and it's grown in NC (supposedly...not sure how much I believe that's gospel anymore). Plus you'd be hard pressed to buy a bushel of Dixie Lee peas from Food Lion for anything approaching reasonable pricing.

It seems crazy to me to buy a tomato picked green in Mexico, then shipped here, where it sits for days on the grocery shelf, when I can buy an actual ripe tomato grown within 20 miles of Raleigh.

I've not been to it myself, but are the prices at the North Hills market comparable?

[Since72]

Originally Posted by cheapdad00

Corn @$5/dozen - I think I'll do without. That price can be matched in any grocery store if you wait a week or two for an average sale. I long for the days of $1/dozen ears of corn. Stop ethanol subsidies now!!!!!

Originally Posted by suedonym

id rather pay more at a farmers market and get fresh, local produce than buy anything at a grocery store. Taste and quality trumps price any day.

jmo...

Here is a good point. How much of the produce is local grown? The same peaches you buy at the market are the same sold at the grocery, Granted Grocery stores buy more. This was a point that I was looking for in another thread I posted a couple of weeks ago. Where are the true farmers market? I use to sell produce years ago that we did not use for home canning. I remember we had a few bushels of yellow squash that the local grocer at the time did not need. We rode to the farmers market at the W-S fair ground. We were sell a bag with rough two to three pounds for .50 per bag. This was in the late 70's. A couple of vendors came for inside the build said we had to leave. My dad ask why. They said we needed to sell at the same price as everyone else. My dad said ok. Got a piece of cardboard and marker wrote FREE!!!! A true farmer. We made a little bit not a killing. Many of the vendors are selling the same produce that the stores are.

[Jowel]

Originally Posted by stantheman78

just like to throw this out there. food lion has tomato on sale this week for .99 lb. Not organic or local.

You're right. Not local at all. The last tomatoes I saw at Food Lion had a sticker saying "Product of Canada." It's not like tomatoes are an exotic fruit that must be imported.

[Since72]

Originally Posted by freshjiv

Yes, I know where to get them, my 6 foot tall german johnson plant growing in my garden that has a good 15-20 large tomatoes on it currently!!

I have four Better Boys. Free table has already hit the street.

[Since72]

Originally Posted by Jowel

You're right. Not local at all. The last tomatoes I saw at Food Lion had a sticker saying "Product of Canada." It's not like tomatoes are an exotic fruit that must be imported.

Question:

How many Egg Plant farmers are there in NC?

[Jowel]

Originally Posted by Since72

Question:

How many Egg Plant farmers are there in NC?

I found some information on the NC Department of Agriculture's website. It lists 18 different eggplant growers. The link is here:

Eggplant Listings