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Colony and village words separated by a vertical line.
Colony and village words separated by a vertical line.

Stroll through Farmers' Markets in the New Bern NC Area

Stroll through Farmers' Markets in the New Bern NC Area

New Bern, the second-oldest town in North Carolina, settled by Europeans, celebrates over 300 years of farming history. Swiss colonists who founded the community in 1710 named the town for the capital city of their former country and began farming this fertile lowland area on the Neuse River, where it meets the Trent River near the headwaters of Pamlico Sound. The town was also the first state capital until 1792. 

If you live in the New Bern area, you can enjoy farm-fresh produce, locally made crafts, and fresh fish.  

A busy outdoor market with people walking and shopping.

New Bern Farmers' Market

The Farmers' Market is in the historic downtown area, where it is open from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm on Saturdays all year. Fresh produce, handmade products, plants, home-baked goods, farm-raised meat and poultry, local honey, wine, and fresh mushrooms cultivated by a local disabled veteran are only a few of the many items found at this weekly market. 

This is the place where the community comes together on Saturday. Enjoy live music from local musicians. The vendors are happy to chat with customers and possibly offer free samples and recipes. They may explain how their crafts are made. The vendors selling indoor and outdoor plants will share information on caring for your purchases. 

Introduce yourself and feel free to ask questions about products, especially organic produce. You can inquire about how to use certain items in cooking. You can also ask how the weather affected certain crops. Discuss freezing and canning certain foods. Also, ask if they will sell products directly from their farm or home when the market is closed. Many farmers are members of Community Supported Agriculture, and they can tell you how to find their products on their websites. 

The produce is seasonal, with summer fruits and berries, along with the best of the fall harvest. Winter highlights other vegetables grown in this warm, semi-tropical coastal climate. Holiday gift ideas from local crafters are always available. 

There are a few important tips to keep in mind when visiting this market. Dress for comfort and wear good walking shoes. You will cover a lot of ground during your stroll. 

Bring the kids, but advise them not to touch items you do not purchase. This is a good way for children to meet farmers and learn how food is produced and prepared for market. Farmers will explain the work involved in planting and harvesting crops. Try something new, such as a fruit or vegetable you do not normally eat. 

Bring cash, especially small bills. Vendors run out of change for $20 bills! This is a traditional farmers' market that existed long before bank checks, plastic cards, and ATMs. All transactions were "cash and carry" in historic farmers' markets! 

Some vendors do accept credit, debit, and SNAP EBT cards. They are required to pay a small percentage to credit card companies, so not everyone wants to accept plastic, Apple Pay, or Google Pay on smartphones. 

Bring your own reusable shopping bags. You can also bring plastic or paper bags. You will be helping the environment by using reusable bags. You can also bring a cooler if you are shopping in warm weather to keep produce and other perishable items fresh. 

A variety of fresh fruits and vegetables are displayed on wooden crates at a market.

White's Farm

Located in Vanceboro, north of New Bern, White's Farm is a working farm and market that provides fresh vegetables and flowers for the region. This is the farm market where you can pick your own strawberries in season. You can buy tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, cantaloupes, watermelons, and other vegetables during the summer and fall harvest season.  

White's Farm grows its flowers from bedding plants to hanging baskets. You can purchase flowers and baskets. The farm also has an ice cream shop featuring homemade ice cream, orange, and lemonade. 

The farm offers a Jump Pillow, gem mining, and field trips beginning in the spring. 

Olde Beaufort Farmer's Market 

Travel 41 miles down to the Crystal Coast from New Bern for a day at the Olde Beaufort Farmers' Market. Beaufort on the coast is one of North Carolina's most popular historic towns. 

This market is also open only on Saturday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on the Courthouse Square. The outdoor market is the place to meet local farmers and fishers selling fresh seafood. Food trucks and live musicians are part of the market experience. 

 Visitors to the market can pet live alpacas, meet artisans selling handmade clothing, and buy microgreens from farmers. 

A woman and a child are shopping for vegetables at a market.

Colony Village Apartments

Residents at Colony Village Apartments can relax on the sundeck or take a dip in the pool. The one, two, and three-bedroom apartments feature upgraded kitchens and bathrooms, and spacious bedrooms. The apartment community is pet-friendly and offers the Amazon Hub for receiving packages. Contact us to schedule a tour.