As the weather begins to heat up, more and more fresh fruits and vegetables can be found at farmers markets across the state, including plants for your garden.  

• Activity at farmers markets across the state is getting busier and busier with more fresh fruits, vegetables, food products and plants arriving every day.
• That means it’s a great time to visit a farmers market and discover what local goodness is all about.
• I know a lot of people are busy working in their yards, adding landscape plants and trees, or planting gardens.
• You can find lots of plant options at farmers markets, whether you are looking for vegetable plants, herbs, shrubs or trees.
• Shoppers have a chance to ask questions about the best places to plant them, how to tend to them and growth characteristics which can be very helpful in deciding what plants would be best for a specific location.
• In addition to plants, more fruits and vegetables are coming into season and can be found at the market.
• Farmers are still looking to recover from last year, and buying local is a great way to support our farm families.
• Strawberries, blueberries, cabbage, greens, sweet potatoes, broccoli, tomatoes and beets are just a few examples of produce that can be found at markets right now.
•  And many markets offer meats, jams and jellies, wines, desserts and more.   
• I personally have had fresh strawberries this year and I can verify they are delicious. I promise you can taste the freshness with locally grown products.
• Consumers are blessed that North Carolina farmers can grow just about anything, so that gives us lots of fresh options to enjoy.