With summer solstice just around the corner, the beloved season is almost officially here. The sun is ablaze, kids are out of school, and our favorite seasonal produce is abundant. Things have been uncertain as of late, but one thing is for sure, our local farmers markets are filled with the same summer produce you count on year after year. Some of these fresh, nutritious items include:
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Okra
- Summer Squash
- Tomatoes
- Lettuce
- Carrots
- Eggs
- …And so much more!
Are you salivating yet? If so, head on over to one of these local markets and fill your basket:
- The Leroy James Farmers Market, located at 4560 County Home Road is open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 8am to 1pm
- The G-Circle Market, located on Government Circle between the Pitt County Public Health Department and the Human Services Center is open on Wednesdays from 8am to 1pm
- The Umbrella Market, located in Five Points Plaza at the corner of 5th & Evans Streets is open on Wednesdays from 5pm-8pm
Purchasing from local growers and vendors provides you with the freshest produce possible while also supporting our local food system and economy. Additionally, the fresher the produce, the higher the nutrient density. Keep in mind though, you don’t just have to buy fresh produce, you can grow it yourself! No room for a garden? No worries, check out these local community gardens:
- Making Pitt Fit Community Garden, 252-902-1756
- Greenville Community Garden, 252-744-4190 (all food grown here is donated to local organizations)
- Farmville Community Garden, 252-753-2364
All of this information can be at your fingertips by downloading the Pitt County Food Finder App, which is supported and managed by the Pitt County Farm and Food Council.
The Pitt County Farm and Food Council promotes a healthy, sustainable, equitable and economically viable community food system. By fostering a network, we initiate, support, and promote programs and policies that educate the community, diminish food disparities, and protect farmland.
Our vision is for Pitt County to be an informed, engaged and healthy community with access to nutritious food and a commitment to continuously improving our community food system.
The following Summer Solstice chorus has been passed down through folk tradition and has been sung throughout communities over the years to commence summer solstice, on the evening of June 20th:
“Earth my body
Water my blood
Air my breath
And fire my spirit”
For more information on the Pitt County Farm and Food Council or the Pitt County Food Finder App, please contact PItt County Farm and Food Council Coordinator, Caitlin Cummins, by email at caitlin.cummins@pittcountync.gov or by phone at 252-902-1722.
Pitt Partners for Health (PPH) is a community health improvement partnership with representatives from local churches, businesses, communities, the hospital, health department and other human service agencies. The partnership mission is to improve the population health of Pitt County through coalition building and partnership. PPH meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month in community locations throughout the county. If you have questions or for more information, please contact Tiera Beale (tiera.beale@vidanthealth.com)