Caswell Farmers Market 2021

By Rebecca Page

The Caswell Farmers Market is open for the 2021 season on Thursdays from 4 to 6:30 p.m. until Sept. 9. Sixteen returning and five new vendors have committed to sell this year, with more certain to join. Most of the vendors are your neighbors in Caswell County, and all grow or make their product within 75 miles of the market.

During April and May, expect to find salad lettuces, kale, collards, spinach, bok choy, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, broccoli, carrots, turnips, radishes, scallions, herbs, and vegetable seedlings for transplanting. There will be beef and eggs along with local and sourwood honey. In May, you will find strawberries.

As the season progresses into June and July, there will be blackberries, blueberries, tomatoes, summer squash, winter squash, cucumbers, okra, garlic, eggplant, potatoes, cantaloupe, watermelons, peppers, green beans and field peas.

There will be value-added food products as well. Catbriar Farm will have homemade soups, bread, and pecan bars and Caswell Ranch Blackberry Farm will have blackberry syrup, blackberry ketchup, and blackberry BBQ sauce. Burr’s Bars will once again treat us to yummy strawberry bars and brownies.

With COVID-19 being less daunting this year, artisans and craft makers are returning. You will find cutting boards, cheese boards, and coasters made from locally harvested wood; handbags made from recycled fabrics; handmade jewelry, candles, crocheted items, customized t-shirts, aprons, masks, flags, door mats, ornamental gourds and more. You may even be treated to some live music by Mickey Mills on his steel drums, sponsored by Caswell Council for the Arts (Caswell Arts).

Goat Stuff By ElyHar Farm is returning with goat milk skin care lotions, soaps, gels, and scrubs and MSB Signature Essentials will be joining the market with homemade soaps, rubs, body creams, and bath bombs made with essential oils and herbs. Good Day Growers is returning with CBD products and lovely hanging plants. Brandon Family Farm will have black walnuts, sassafras root, cut flowers, traditional lye soap, woodwork, and craft arrangements.

To find out which vendors will be at the market each week and what they will bring, check the Caswell Farmers Market Facebook page on Wednesdays before each market day.

Like last year, the COVID-19 prevention guidance will be followed. Hand-sanitizing stations will be on site and masks will be required while they are recommended by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Hopefully, those requirements can be relaxed soon.

Caswell County Local Foods Council (CCLFC) is grateful for all loyal returning vendors: Baldwin Beef, Byrd Farm, Brandon Family Farm, Burr’s Bars, Caswell Ranch Blackberry Farm, Catbriar Farm, Janie Cole, Good Day Growers, Faith Farm Supply, Honeybee Hills Farm, Mike’s Local Honey and Produce, Walker Farms, and White Swan Farm and Forge. New vendors to welcome are BoHo Designs, Homestead BS, Imperfectly Perfect Small Town Crafts, Johnsorosa Homestead LLC, Korn Creations, and MSB Signature Essentials.

The market is located at Bright Leaf Center, 2246 NC Hwy 86, Yanceyville, N.C., by Goodwill. Come and shop! Invite your friends! Mark your calendar (set your phone to remind you!) every Thursday from 4 to 6:30 p.m. until Sept. 9. The market opens rain or shine -- excluding thunderstorms, hurricanes, or tornadoes.

Be well in Caswell! See you at the market!2256/58 NC Hwy 86 N
Yanceyville, NC 27379
caswelllocalfoods.org
Caswelllocalfoods@gmail.com