Despite the Coronavirus pandemic, Moore County farmers are still growing crops and produce! The virus is not a food-borne illness, so there is nothing better than the farm fresh products our local farm community is planting and harvesting for everyone to enjoy.
While restaurants and bars are closed in Moore County during the Coronavirus crisis, the local farms that supply many of our local chefs the products you enjoy in their establishments, are still open for business!
Please note…COVID-19 is NOT a food-borne illness. Health experts all agree on this fact. If you visit a farm and purchase their products, just wash those items first before preparing and eating. We hope you do with any grocery store purchased produce and farm grown products. For more on this, visit: https://foodsafety.ces.ncsu.edu/covid-19-resources/.
According to Steve Troxler, the NC Commissioner of Agriculture, “Food is one of the most essential elements to survival… Keeping our nation’s food production and distribution systems operational even as we deal with this pandemic is critical to ensuring our food supply and our national security.” Regarding the State Farmers Markets, they will all remain open: “These outdoor supermarkets are important venues in the food supply chain.”
Here in Moore County, asparagus, greenhouse vegetables, sweet potatoes and meats are in season. Strawberries, trickling in already, should be generally available by the first week of April.
Where Can You Buy Farm Fresh Products?
Moore County Farmers Markets. The Farmers Market at Armory Park in Southern Pines is open year round on Thursday mornings from 9 am to 1 pm. Call 910 947-3752 or 910-690-9520. Leave a message. They will begin downtown markets on Saturday mornings in Southern Pines (8 a.m. to noon). beginning April 18 and on Monday afternoons 2-5 p.m. at the First Health Fitness Center in Pinehurst.
Moore County Health Department Farmers Market, 705 Pinehurst Avenue, Carthage. Monday 10 am – 2 pm beginning May 4. Call (910) 947-3300 or email Matt Garner mgarner@moorecountync.gov.
Sandhills Farm to Table is a cooperative bringing fresh, locally grown food produced by Sandhills farmers and artisans to consumers in the Sandhills. As a member you can subscribe to a box packed with the abundance of fresh-picked fruits and veggies and have them delivered to your Gathering Site during the main growing season, April-November. Deliveries begin April 22. Home delivery is an option if you are home-bound. Call (910) 722-1623 or go to https://www.sandhillsfarm2table.com/.
Sandhills Farmers Market on the Pinehurst Village Green. Wednesdays 3 pm – 6 pm and Saturday 10 am – 1 pm from mid April through September. More information at http://www.moorefarmfresh.com/.
Find Farms open to the public on the Visit NC Farm App, including more than 30 farms in the Sandhills region.
Our farmers have stepped up during this pandemic. Support them now, and they will continue to feed us in the future.
To learn more about the Visit NC Farms App CLICK HERE. It is available for free at the Apple App Store and on Google Play. The App will show you all participating Moore County Farms, scheduled events, Pick Your Own opportunities and restaurants, when they re-open, where you can enjoy farm fresh products from our dedicated and hard-working local farmers! We’ll get through this together!
