One of the many vendors that will be selling at the Robeson County Farmers Market beginning Saturday. The market opens at 7 a.m.

It has been rather cool at night for the past several days. Cool nights are not very good for vegetables. However, we have had some great spring showers during the past few weeks. As the nights begin to warm up again, and with a lot of moisture in the soil, vegetable crops will begin to grow rapidly.

It is definitely the time of the year for fresh vegetables. I'm not talking about fresh collards, mustard, and turnips that we enjoyed during the winter. I'm talking about the kinds of vegetables that used to come right out of our mother's garden about this time of the year. I'm talking about vegetables like cabbage, new potatoes, early squash, spring onions, and English peas. Just a little later on, it will be sweet corn, peas, tomatoes, beans, and okra.

Growing vegetables in a family garden is becoming a lost art. Very few people have vegetable gardens today, but those who do, not only enjoy the relaxation of working in the garden, they also experience the joy of eating vegetables that are just about as fresh as can possibly be. I'm talking about picking vegetables out of the garden, washing them off under the garden hose as you head back to the house, preparing them in the kitchen sink, and immediately placing them on the stove to cook. If you had a garden, many times in less than two hours after picking them, your family could be enjoying fresh, homegrown, delicious vegetables for either lunch or dinner.

Just because you do not have a garden does not mean that you cannot enjoy the very freshest local vegetables possible. The Robeson County Farmers Market that operates in downtown Lumberton will officially open this coming Saturday (May 17). Just stop by this market after 7 a.m. and get some of the most delicious vegetables you could ever imagine. And think about this, you and your family can enjoy the vegetables without having to have started several months ago planting what you wanted to eat, chopping weeds, watering it, and spraying for bugs. It can't get any better than this.

This market has actually operated all winter, because a few of our producers grow a large amount of quite a few vegetables. They have something for the table about any time of the year. But most of our vegetable farmers concentrate on the summer vegetables. They may grow a few collards and other winter vegetables, but they usually sell them directly from the farm.

Although the market will open this weekend, the official grand opening will not take place until Saturday, June 21. The amount and variety of vegetables available at the market will increase from this coming weekend until the 21st. That will be the first day of summer and by that time, all the vendors at the market will have the greatest variety and amount of the entire year. The official grand opening will feature some special events such as drawing for free vegetables, recipes, samples of various products, and possibly demonstrations about how to prepare fresh vegetables for cooking.

I am really concerned about the decreasing number of vendors at our local market. Just a few years ago during the peak of the season, almost all of the spots were filled with vendors from all across the county. Many of the folks who used to sell at the market were elderly and have since passed away. Some have become too old to continue farming. And some have given up vegetable production because of the hard work and low income. This does not necessarily mean that there are fewer vegetables available at the market, only that there are fewer farmers producing those vegetables.

What really concerns me is that there are fewer and fewer homemakers, especially young homemakers with children, who know how to properly shop for fresh vegetables and then prepare them, so they are both delicious and nutritious. It takes more time to prepare fresh vegetables than it does to place a block of frozen stuff in a boiler with water. It takes time to shop for fresh vegetables and to plan menus that include the vegetables purchased. Many of us today, especially mothers with young children, do not have very much spare time. Unfortunately for many, even though they would prefer fresh, local vegetables, they cannot afford the extra time and effort to incorporate them into the family's diet.

Is your family's health worth a little extra effort? What can we do to make sure every member of our family eats the correct servings of fresh vegetables each day? During the summer, you can stop at the farmers market at least one time each week and buy your weekly supply of fresh, locally grown vegetables.

I would like to encourage you to visit the local farmers market this Saturday and purchase some of the local vegetables they have available. If you do not know how to prepare them, ask the vendor. I bet they can tell you lots of secrets about their favorite recipes for each of the vegetables they grow. They can also share tips about storing your fresh vegetables in the refrigerator or how to prepare them for freezing, so you can enjoy them all year long.

Vegetable season is here. Don't miss your opportunity. And don't forget what your mama told you. Eat your vegetables, they are good for you.

E-mail address: Everett_Davis@ncsu.edu

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 2280
Lumberton, NC 28359-2280

Phone: 910-671-3276
Fax: 910-671-6278

Date Created 5/28/08