The Sanford Farmers Market will open two weeks early for the 2025 season, bringing with it a host of new vendors and activities for the whole family.
The market’s first Saturday will be April 5, two weeks earlier than normal. The season runs through Nov. 15, with the market — in the parking lot at 115 Chatham St. in downtown Sanford — opening from 8:30 a.m. to noon each Saturday for the duration of the season.
“Our farmers were reading to get started,” said Meredith Favre, local foods coordinator for the Lee County Cooperative Extension. “Last year was interesting — the strawberries came in early, and we had a lot of people sitting on product.”
Favre said the market will be bigger this year, full of new products from an average of 30 vendors a week. Vendors new to the market this year will include an oyster farmer from Carteret County and a goat dairy from Chatham County. “I have to do Tetris every week trying to fit all the vendors in. We’re pretty much at capacity.”
As always, the market will host special events – classes, programs and more – many weeks, particularly the second Saturday of each month. Events will be announced on the market’s website (sanfordfarmersmarketnc.com) and on social media (@sanfordfarmersmarket). Those without social media can sign up for the market’s email newsletter via the website.
The market averaged 700 visitors per week in 2024. A new marketplace is under construction on Charlotte Avenue across the street from the current site, and while a completion date isn’t set, it’s possible that the market could be held there beginning in 2026.