to talk to the grower who planted, and
handpicked that morning, the produce
you are purchasing. The grower will
tell you about the product, different
ways you can prepare it, and the kinds
of produce it pairs well with.
Along with the unfamiliar, you will
find the familiar in all of its splendor.
The tables of heirloom tomatoes
feature Cherokee Purple, German
Johnson, Brandywine, Amana Orange,
and many other types. You will find
yellow squash the color of sunshine
and cranberry beans that look handpainted.
You will find your fare of
freshly baked breads, locally made
wines, fresh seafood, and the highest
grade of meats available. Most
importantly, each item comes with the
obvious pride of the producer and as
much history as you would like to hear
about the producer and the product.
During my visit to the market, I met
Gregg Edward of Greggs Honey Hive,
a true Sommelier of honey. Greg
harvests honey from more than 200
separate bee colonies in greater
Charlotte. “No two jars of honey
are alike,” he says. And no wonder
— the honey his bees produce is a
continual surprise: with each season
the type of vegetation changes, so
the pollen his bees gather is never
alike. He delighted me with samples
from several different jars, and the
distinction from jar to jar was more
than noteworthy.
I also met John Rowley of Carolina
Lavender, who, to his surprise,
purchased property in Gastonia that
just so happened to be on a rare glacial
deposit, making the land perfect
for lavender farming. He grows and
distills lavender for use in everything
charlotte lifestyle feb/march
05
“Shea butter comes
directly from West Africa,
is harvested from the nut
of the Karite tree and
arrives in an unrefined
organic state.”
markets as places to go for fresh
produce—maybe some heirloom
tomatoes or seasonal fruits and
vegetables—but this one extends
well beyond that definition. Amie
Newsome, Market Manager at the
Charlotte Regional Farmers Market,
explains that, while supporting local
farms and agriculture is the intention
of the U.S. Department of Agriculture,
“the inspiration of the farmers market
comes from the community and the
diverse people in it.”
Charlotte is a uniquely growing city,
and we have a community of people
from all parts of the
world. “It is our goal
that, no matter what
part of the world you
originate from, you will
find someone that looks
like you during your visit
here,” says Newsome. The
intention of the farmers
market is to cater to the
people that live here. It has thereby
become the truest example of a great
“melting pot” one can experience.
“So, while we are a regional market,
we don’t limit ourselves to strictly
regional products,” but “all the vendors
have to in some way be involved in
local agriculture,” says Newsome. You
will find produce here from around
the world. During a stroll through just
the first of the market’s four buildings,
you will find Bok Choy close to six feet
tall, purple okra as long as your arm,
eggplant from Thailand now being
cultivated right here in Charlotte, and
mushrooms that appear grown on
a coral reef. You will find things like
jackfruit, hyacinth beans, dragon fruit,
and many items you may have seen
coming out of the “Chopped” basket
on the Food Network. You will be able