Did you know that the beginning of Farmers Markets can be traced back over 5,000 years to Egypt? Although those first markets involved both farmers and craftsmen engaging more in bartering than the selling of items, they were a way for those in the region to connect and obtain provisions required for survival.

Fast forward to the United States, where the first record of a Farmers Markets was in 1730 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. When the city was planned, a 120 square foot lot in the center of the town was designed as the public market. The setting of this original market still exists today in the Romanesque Revival market house facility that was built in 1889. Designated as one of the “Great Public Places” in America, it has persevered through time and still serves as the hub of downtown Lancaster, PA.

Farmers’ markets have deep roots in American history. In the first decades of the country, most cities had a municipal sponsored market where farmers could meet with direct consumers and sell their goods. It is often reported that in July 1806, President Thomas Jefferson bought beef, eggs, and assorted produce at a Georgetown market.

Throughout the 1900’s farmers markets contributed to the success of area economies and also played a big role in the social interaction where rural and urban community members could meet. In time, better roads, high speed transportation and refrigeration made way for supermarkets and wholesalers and in the 1950s and 60’s many small farmers were left out of the food cycle. In fact, it has been estimated that food in the United States travels an average of 1300 miles and changes hands six times before being eaten.

According to the USDA there are over 8,700 farmers markets in the country now. With its focus on supporting sustainability and encouraging farmers market development in underserved areas, the USDA promotes keeping new and old farmers markets operating across the nation. For the last 40 years, there has been a renaissance of local farmers markets. With the concerns over preserving local farmland, the livelihood of small farmers, desire to know where food comes from, and the safety of that food, and the disruption of the supply chain with the pandemic, farmers markets have been solidified as an increasingly important part of the communities where they serve.

Farmers markets today offer much more than fruits and vegetables. Various protein options are available along side fresh baked and homemade items. The branding through phrases like “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” and “Eat Fresh, Eat Local,” all assist in building the movement that is also playing a large role in the ideals of community, health, food education and environmental stewardship. With the combined benefit of high-quality fresh products and the social atmosphere, consumers concerned about food safety can ask questions about production practices, farming methods and business policies. In many areas, the local farmers market may be the only access to healthy fresh food that low income and inner-city residents have access to.

These markets also provide an excellent forum for educational opportunities keeping the communities they serve updated on local economies, farming practices, food systems and issues related to food production. With presentations on how to prepare and eat the foods at the market, there is an entertainment value as well.

Today, as in the past, whether it is a chef looking to supply their restaurant with fresh produce, or customers interested in homemade cakes and preserves for visitors coming in, farmers markets promise not only freshness but sociability — a feature appreciated by vendors, too. Perhaps most all, they are a welcoming place that serves as a nostalgic throwback to the way things were in the ‘good old days’.

The Caswell County Local Foods Council (CCLFC), a 501c3 nonprofit, made up of a volunteer board, manages the Caswell Farmers Market. It operates late April through September on Thursdays from 4:00 – 6:30pm at the Yanceyville Pavilion, 158 E. Church Street, Yanceyville, NC 27379. In 2024, live music is planned for each market courtesy of the Caswell Council for the Arts, along with a regional food truck or local eating establishment providing food for purchase. With a robust children’s program, the Two Bite club introduces children to new produce items each week to get them engaged in healthy eating.

The CCLFC in collaboration with the Town and Yanceyville and Caswell Cooperative Extension has secured a grant to have a shelter built to provide a safer and cooler environment for the weekly seasonal market in Yanceyville. Public restrooms are also included in the plans. Stay tuned for more details on this new opportunity for the citizens and farmers of the community.

By Amanda Hodges, as published in Caswell Then & Now Magazine, Summer 2024