(RALEIGH –June 13, 2011) The Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market will host GrazeFest, a celebration of grass-fed and pasture-raised farm foods, on Wednesday, June 22 from 10am – 2pm. The market, located each week at City Plaza on the 400 block of Fayetteville Street, invites food lovers of all ages to enjoy festivities that showcase North Carolina’s harvest of beef, lamb, pork, poultry, cheeses, eggs, milk and other dairy products. The event features a pig pickin’, the second annual ice-cream eating contest with Lumpy’s Ice Cream, and bluegrass music by Old Habits. Aspiring pitmasters will have the opportunity to learn from the best—expertBob Garner and chefs from The Pit will share seasoning secrets, barbecue history, and chopping techniques during their 11 am demonstration. Festival goers should come hungry for The Pit’s NC style barbecue sandwiches, prepared from pork raised on Animal Welfare Approved farms, which will be available for $5. At 11:30am, kids are invited to a special EGGstravaganza with egg relays, veggie trivia, and a market scavenger hunt.
While at the Market, customers can visit the information booth and sign up for a free raffle where they can win a full year of delicious organic dairy products produced without the use of synthetic pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics, from the farmer-owners at Organic Valley Cooperative! All meat lovers are invited to pick up a free copy of “The Great News about Grass,” an informative publication offering tips for making the most of pasture-raised foods and showcasing great recipes.
Schedule of Events
- 10 am Market Opens
- 10:30 am Music by Old Habits
- 11 am Chef Demonstration featuring pitmasters from The Pit and expert Bob Garner
- 11:30 am EGGstravaganza
- 2 pm Market Closes
The Pit’s sandwiches will be available for sale throughout the day. Old Habits will play throughout the Market, beginning at 10:30. Lumpy’s Ice Cream Eating Contest—time TBA.
The Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market is hosting GRAZEFESTsm to bring together food lovers of all ages to sample local foods from the region’s most dedicated small-scale farmers and to help raise awareness of the health, environmental, animal-welfare, and culinary benefits of allowing farm animals to roam on pasture and eat what nature intended.
The Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market, a program of the Downtown Raleigh Alliance, strives to be a guiding force in shaping the environmental, social and financial health of downtown by bringing the highest quality local growers and food artisans together to the Raleigh community. The Market contributes to the sustainability and success of downtown by serving as a community gathering place, a vehicle for a regional economy, and a center for fresh, local, and healthy food.
Shop at the Market for farm fresh fruits and vegetables, beef, poultry, seafood, cheeses, jams and jellies, eggs, baked goods, plant starts, flowers, and more! Find a bounty of fresh, sustainably-grown produce and artisan food each Wednesday through October 26 from 10 am-2 pm. Connect with your community farmers and choose local—it’s the healthiest and most nutritious way to eat. For more information, visit RaleighEatLocal.com.
About Grazfest: The Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market is one of many organizations across the nation to hold a Grazefest event this year. GRAZEFESTsm began in 2004 as a national grassroots campaign to promote the diverse flavors and unique farming and ranching techniques of small-scale family farmers who are dedicating their lives to finding humane and environmentally responsible alternatives to large-scale “factory farms.” Grass-based farming has gained favor with animal welfare advocates, wildlife preservationists, environmentalists, health and nutrition experts, and social justice advocates who view these unique farming and ranching techniques as critical to the health and well-being of farm animals and the farmers who work the land. It has also captured the attention of food enthusiasts and professional chefs, who embrace the unique flavors and outstanding quality of the beef, pork, lamb, bison, goat, poultry, milk, and cheeses that come from animals raised on well-managed pastures.
Special Thanks to:The Market is a program produced by the Downtown Raleigh Alliance and is made possible by the generous support of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market would also like to thank Curtis Media Group as their media sponsor, golden carrot sponsor The Chef’s Academy, and silver tomato sponsors Wake Specialty Physicians City Center Medical Group, a private practice of WakeMed, and Organic Valley.
About the Downtown Raleigh Alliance: The Alliance is the official nonprofit organization designated to manage and promote downtown as a regional center of commerce, tourism, and livability. Through its dedicated Board of Directors and professional staff, the Alliance team provides a comprehensive array of programs designed to build on the strengths of the downtown business district. The programs are categorized into five main areas: Clean & Safe Ambassadors, Marketing & Events, Economic Development, City Plaza Management, and Advocacy. The Alliance was created in 1996 by a coalition of community advocates, corporate leaders, and government officials. Our website is www.YouRHere.com.
