About the Market
Serving the Henderson and Vance County community since 2014.
Our Story
For generations, Vance County farmers relied on tobacco crops to sustain their families. When the federal tobacco quota program ended in 2004, those farmers faced a difficult question: how to hold on to their land and way of life.
The answer started small. Farmers gathered in parking lots and sold produce from truck tailgates. But the community saw something bigger. Responding to area residents' need for fresh, healthy food, a coalition of farmers, county leaders, and agricultural organizations envisioned a permanent market.
Grants from the N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund and the Vance County Farm Bureau enabled the construction of a 7,500-square-foot, climate-controlled building with a classroom in 2014. What started as truck tailgates in a parking lot became a close to $1 million facility, with the county contributing only about $50,000 of the construction cost. The rest came entirely from grants and donations.
Today, the county is responsible for approximately $47,000 of the market's annual budget. The market serves as a true community hub, hosting events, accepting nutrition benefits like SFMNP, WIC, and SNAP/EBT, and offering programming for all ages.
Voices of the Market
"Vance County is one of the poorest counties in the state, and the farmers in this area really needed something they could look forward to participating in that would generate some income."
"We now have a close to $1 million facility, and the county only paid for about $50,000. It's all through grants and donations."
"Most of the produce in the grocery store, while it's fine, has been shipped from South America or Florida and been on trucks for days."
"Our vendors and staff greet everyone who walks through the door with a smile. We've got all of the great North Carolina produce you'd expect -- blueberries, strawberries, watermelon and sweet corn."
Community Impact
Vance County is one of the poorest counties in North Carolina, and the market has always been about more than just buying fresh produce. Historically, the market partnered with the Henderson Kiwanis Club and Area Christians Together in Service (ACTS) to collect donations and deliver leftover produce to families in need.
We are actively working to rebuild that kind of community feeding partnership, collaborating with local organizations like ACTS and the Salvation Army to ensure the generosity of our farmers and customers continues reaching those who need it most.
Our Mission
To provide equal opportunity for farmers to sell their products directly to consumers in a pleasant, family-friendly atmosphere, while being a good neighbor and sensitive to our community.
At a Glance
Schedule
Saturdays: 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
May through December
Wednesdays: 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
June through August
Location
210 Southpark Drive
Henderson, NC 27536
Near S. Beckford Dr., close to the Social Security office and Dialysis Center
Vendors
Open to farmers and producers from Vance, Franklin, Warren, Granville, Mecklenburg County, VA counties.
Programs
Governance
Operated under the jurisdiction of Vance County and governed by the Vance County Board of Commissioners.
A 13-member Advisory Board advises on market operations, programming, and development. Meet the board
Supported by NC Cooperative Extension, Vance County Center.
Facilities
The Market in Pictures
Photos courtesy of NC Field & Family and the N.C. Department of Agriculture.