Delicious, fresh, and healthy food is always around the corner at the Fuquay-Varina Growers Market. Every Wednesday from 3-6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-12p.m. local families and vendors come out and sell fresh products in Centennial Square. The market is a great way for residents to come and support the community and eat healthy locally.
There are eight to twelve vendors every weekend at the Growers Market including the Barnes, Hollands, Masons, Montagues, and Mangum families.
David Magnum is known for selling fresh seafood right from the North Carolina coast. He goes out on a three hour drive every Friday to the coast to purchase fish, shrimp, and other seafood “right from the boat”. A Fuquay-Varina native, Mangum grew up on a farm surrounded by family. On the farm, Mangum said he had his own garden and would plant many things like snap beans and other vegetables. Later on, Mangum and his wife had three kids and taught them how to grow their own gardens. He also taught them the experience of feeling self-pride and self-accomplishment. “Growing your own garden gives you a sense of accomplishment,” said Mangum. Now that his children are all grown-up, they have their own gardens.
The Mangum family became involved in the Growers Market when his youngest son wanted extra income last July. The other families and vendors in the Growers Market have been involved several years before the Mangums. Everyone works hard and spends a lot of their time contributing their work and products in the market and to the community. Mangum said that it takes a lot of effort to plant and supply the food, but it makes him feel good that others enjoy it as much as he does.
According to Mangum, this year has been by far the best year for the Growers Market. With new food and products being incorporated every year, more people have been visiting and buying from the market. Family friendly events have also caught the attention of many Fuquay-Varina families. “It’s a great community event and a great time to socialize and have fun,” says Mangum, “It’s a great way to spend Saturday mornings.”
One of the Growers Markets main goals is to provide the community with healthy food. Some people don’t realize it, but the food we buy at grocery stores and supermarkets contain many harmful chemicals that we are putting into our systems, some of which include pesticides and preservatives. At the Growers Market, the food supplied to the community is local, fresh, and has no preservatives. It also doesn’t contain as many chemicals as grocery stores and supermarkets do. “I am conscious about what I eat and what I put into my body,” Mangum said.
Shopping at the Growers Market is not only good for your health, but it is also beneficial to the community. Mangum said that it is important to support the families who provide the community with local and healthy food.
Contact David Mangum on his facebook page, “Fresh Cut Seafood” to request specific seafood by Thursdays by 4 p.m. The Growers Market also has a facebook page, “Growers Market of Fuquay-Varina” where you can keep up with the community. You can also find out about upcoming events on their website, growers-market.org.
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