A hot spot emerges
“It has become like a meeting of friends. It’s old fashioned. It’s relaxed. It’s a destination. People don’t just something to add a nice background feel to the market and allow young people to get out and play and show themselves off a little bit,” Wood says.
Over the years Wood and her board of directors made up of local farmers have added some unusual elements, such as cooking demonstrations by well-known chefs and live music by talented young people.
“Every top chef in Charlotte shops at our market,” Wood says. “They have been kind enough to come down and do cooking demonstrations, and they participate in our ‘Ask a Chef’ program; from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., they sit and answer any questions people may have about food and how to prepare it.”
The live music adds a festive tone to the shopping and socializing. “We try to feature local young musicians. We have a classical harpist, a blues guitarist, violinists, bluegrass, a string band . . . It’s something to add a nice background feel to the market and allow young people to get out and play and show themselves off a little bit,” Wood says.
Season’s peak
Mid-July to mid-August are prime times for the market, with corn, tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, zucchini, peaches, okra, blueberries, blackberries, green beans, potatoes, and watermelons at their peak. Lettuce is available year-round thanks to greenhouse growers.
There are also two big events coming in July: the annual Sweet Corn Roast on July 19 and a tomato-tasting day on July 26. “People can sample about 30 different varieties of tomatoes that farmers bring to market. We give out score sheets to people as they come in, and they can vote for their favorite,” Wood says.
The little market has become an institution with regional appeal, drawing people in from surrounding counties and up from South Carolina. Its location on Trade Street—Matthews’ main drag—is ideal, but the lot is hemmed in by buildings on three sides, which limits expansion opportunities.
“Most farmers’ markets would give anything to be in their downtown area,” Wood says. “The location adds so much to the character of the farmers’ market. I don’t know that we would like to change locations just to add vendors. We are just going to continue to be creative and further define the market as Pauline Wood, a place to be.”