There’s nothing fresher than food straight from the farm. Greater Raleigh may be a burgeoning metropolitan area, but you wouldn’t know it by how many quality farmers markets there are here. Juicy sweet strawberries, watermelons fresh from the vine, and handcrafted cheeses are just a small taste of what you can find at these markets.

Conveniently located in the heart of downtown, the Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market is nestled in City Plaza every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Each week you’ll find sustainably-grown produce and artisan food, along with food festivals, chef celebrations, tastings, live music and kid-friendly activities.

For farmers markets in other parts of Raleigh, visit the year-round North Raleigh Farmers Market, the Midtown Farmers Market, or the 75-acre, indoor and outdoor State Farmers Market. The State Farmers Market is considered one of the best and most modern markets in the U.S. and is open Monday through Saturday from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In Cary you’ll find the Western Wake Farmers Market, conceived by moms who wanted to feed their families with local food (now you can, too!), and the Cary Downtown Farmers Market, featuring only items produced within a 100-mile radius of the market. For even more information about other farmers markets in Apex, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, Wendell and Wake Forest, click here.