Our History
The Cary Downtown Farmers’ Market was established in 1991 as a cooperative effort between a few local growers, downtown Cary merchants, the Cary Chamber of Commerce, and the Seeds of Hope Foundation.
The market was established as a product outlet for small-acreage,family-operated farms, in order to encourage these growers in their struggle to continue an American way of life that is so rapidly disappearing from this area.
Parker Farms son & piglets
Our Mission
Another important reason for this market is to strengthen the area’s sense of community and to build bonds between Cary residents and their local farmers. Consumers and market vendors become friends as the two groups mingle and exchange ideas and information. No one knows more about a product than the person who grows or produces that product. Consumers can get the information they need to feed their families with locally grown, in most cases near-organically grown, nutritious and fresh seasonal food.
Our Growers
All our growers must live, and grow or raise their products within 100 miles of downtown Cary. Our growers use fewer fertilizers and chemicals, including no post-harvest chemicals. They use responsible methods of raising meat animals, and near-organic methods of growing crops. The only way to have fresher or healthier vegetables, fruits and meats is to grow them yourself!