Excerpts from the Lenoir County Farmer’s Market newsletter:

This is the day we have all been looking forward to for a while. Our local minor league baseball team, normally named the Down East Wood Ducks, are playing their games this weekend as the Kinston Collard Greens. This is the team's tribute to the agricultural history in our area and its history of southern food. Come out and join the fun. The gates open at 4 and the game begins at 5. The first 1000 people in the stadium will receive a Kinston Collard Greens bucket hat ! Be sure to come early to get yours! In case of rain, stay tuned ! We will send out an announcement explaining a schedule change. 

RIPE AND READY

Today, you will find WILD BILL TILGHMAN and his garden bounty in the first section of the market. He will be there with the Smiths, the Coleys and the Pork Skin Man. Stop by to see him there. 

Okra, local tomatoes, jams, jellies, vinaigrettes free range eggs, fresh broccoli,  strawberries, blueberries,
South Carolina peaches, Florida watermelons and canteloupes, new potatoes, patty pan squash, yellow squash, 8 ball zucchini, kale, collards, mustard, turnips, sweet potatoes, Chanternay carrots, rainbow mix carrots, radishes, Asian baby greens mix, spring lettuce mix, head lettuce, broccolini, Biera chard, Senposie greens, Hakurae turnips, green garlic, spring onions, Siberian kale, Red Russian kale, dino kale, Genovese basil, Thai basil, lemon basil, parsley, cilantro, chamomile, Greek oregano, dill, mint and bronze fennel. All items  may not be available.

Also, the market offers handmade, all natural soaps, crafts and wreaths, local honey(not this week) and fried peanuts, pork skins and rinds.

HAPPENINGS:

Saturday, June 8 Grainger Stadium - Down East Wood Ducks play as the Kinston Collard Greens, as a tribute to local agriculture. Market vendors will be on hand with their produce, honey and eggs and will be set up as a mini farmers market. Come by to visit, talk to your local farmers about what they do  and get to know the people who put food on your table.

Tuesday, June 25    11 o'clock    Holly White from the Diabetes Wellness Program at UNC Lenoir Health Care will demostrate cooking methods and serve samples of diabetes-friendly dishes