A trip to the farmers' market can leave you with a little bit of everything and no clear plan. Good news – Charlotte has no shortage of markets to explore this spring, each overflowing with fresh, local produce and flowers. Here’s a quick guide to some of our favorite spots:
- Cotswold Farmers Market | Open May – October | Cultivating community by bringing local farmers, ranchers, food makers, and musicians together.
- Charlotte Regional Farmers Market | Open Year-round | Big state-run market with NC-grown produce, fruits, jams, flowers, and more.
- Davidson Farmers Market | Open Year-round | Local produce, flowers, meats, baked goods, and seasonal finds.
- Kings Drive Farmers Market | Open April – December | Long-running neighborhood market with seasonal produce and flowers.
- Matthews Community Farmers Market | Open Year-round | Small but award-winning seasonal market with local produce.
- Mecklenburg County Farmers Market | Open Year-round | Oldest, Historic indoor farmers market in NC carrying fruits, vegetables, preserves, and more.
- Mint Hill Market | Open May – October | Seasonal community market that offers the perfect spot to buy produce that is locally grown, peruse crafts, or have a hot dog or hamburger.
- South End Farmers Market | Open Year-round | Saturday market on the Rail Trail with local, sustainable, responsibly raised produce and proteins – along with locally sourced artisanal food products and crafts.
- University City Farmers Market | Open April – October | Local, responsibly-raised veggies and fruits, meats, pasture-raised eggs, plus artisanal food, wellness products, and other curated items.
- Waxhaw Farmers Market | Open Year-round | As a producer-only market, every item sold comes directly from the farmers and artisans who grew or crafted it, keeping the community connected to truly local food.
- Uptown Farmers Market | Open April – December | Local non-profit with a mission to engage our neighbors in locally grown, fresh foods to support local farmers, educate on healthy eating, and address food insecurity in the Charlotte community.
- Mount Holly Farmers Market | Open April – October | Seasonal market featuring fruits, vegetables, and local products focused on supporting local small farms, educating our community on the advantages of eating fresh local food, and teaching our community to grow their own food.
Before you head out to Charlotte’s farmers markets, it helps to know what’s in season – that way you can bring home the freshest fruits, vegetables, and blooms each month.
April
- Fruits: Strawberries, early blueberries, rhubarb
- Vegetables / Greens: Asparagus, spinach, lettuce & salad greens, kale, radishes, peas, carrots, beets, green onions
- Flowers / Blooms: Daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, pansies, primroses
May
- Fruits: Strawberries (peak), blueberries, cherries (late May)
- Vegetables / Greens: Asparagus, spinach, salad greens, kale, radishes, peas, carrots, beets, green onions, early summer squash
- Flowers / Blooms: Peonies, tulips (late), lilacs, snapdragons, sweet peas
June
- Fruits: Blueberries (peak), blackberries (start), raspberries (start), strawberries (end)
- Vegetables / Greens: Summer squash, zucchini, cucumbers, peas, lettuce & salad greens, kale, green beans, carrots, beets, bell peppers (early)
- Flowers / Blooms: Roses, hydrangeas, daylilies, lilies, dahlias (early)
Here at Dickens Mitchener, we love turning fresh, local produce into simple, flavorful meals. Using ingredients you can find at Charlotte’s farmers markets, we’ve put together three easy, seasonal recipes to bring the farm to your table.
