Raleigh State Farmers Market sustains 75-acre operation with year-round access

The State Farmers Market in Raleigh operates every day of the year.

The 75-acre facility hosts produce stalls, unique plants, fresh flowers, and three restaurants. Vendors travel from various points in North Carolina to sell goods that include apples, honey, mushrooms, and fig trees. The market draws customers from all over the state and the country.

Robert Lowe manages Sugarloaf Orchards, a farm located near Boone, North Carolina, approximately 170 miles from the market. The family has operated the business since 1846 and has sold at the State Farmers Market since 1991. Lowe leaves his farm at 4:00 a.m. to arrive for the daily shift. He typically remains at the facility until 5:00 p.m.

Lowe attributes the high volume of business to the market's location in Raleigh. He noted that other farmers markets are more rural and attract fewer people. He stated that the expansion of Raleigh over the past decade has increased travel and business for his stall.

Jen Baskett runs the stand for Weston Farms. The farm originated from a single magnolia tree owned by the owner's grandmother and has expanded to more than 10,000 trees. The farm produces wreaths, arrangements, and garlands from those trees. Baskett cited the owner's father as the first city horticulturist for Raleigh.

Baskett said she enjoys interacting with the guests who visit the booth. She noted that people from all over the country come to see the offerings from state farmers. She described the opportunity to support and be part of the market as a cool thing.

Heather Enloe traveled from Purcellville, Virginia, to the market with her husband and son. Her son attends North Carolina State University. Enloe said she intended to buy fresh vegetables but found the fresh flowers to be her favorite part of the visit. She said that if the family did not have a six-hour drive ahead of them, she would pick up as many fresh flowers as she could hold.

The family shared the Lumberjack Pants Splitter Special at one of the three restaurants on the property. Enloe said the meal was delicious and provided more food than the group could eat. The market has brought people together in the center of Raleigh since 1955.