Catawba County Public Health Farmers Market

Serving the Hickory community in North Carolina, Catawba County Public Health Farmers Market is where local agriculture meets neighborhood life — a gathering place for families, foodies, and farmers alike.

Market hours are Thu: 11:00 AM-2:00 PM, Jun 4 - Sep 24. Hours and participating vendors may vary — verify before making the trip.

Catawba County Public Health Farmers Market is part of a national network of farmers markets that have grown substantially over the past two decades. According to USDA data, the number of registered farmers markets in the United States has expanded significantly, reflecting growing consumer demand for local, transparent food sourcing. Catawba County Public Health Farmers Market contributes to that network by giving Hickory-area growers and food producers a reliable, recurring venue for direct sales.

For consumers, the practical benefit of shopping at Catawba County Public Health Farmers Market is freshness. Produce sold at a farmers market is typically harvested within 24 to 72 hours of sale — far less time than the average transit and distribution time for produce in conventional supply chains. That shorter journey from field to table has real implications for flavor, nutritional density, and shelf life at home. Strawberries bought at Catawba County Public Health Farmers Market on a Saturday morning are simply a different product from strawberries that have traveled across the country in a refrigerated truck.

The economic impact of a market like Catawba County Public Health Farmers Market is also worth noting. When you spend money at Catawba County Public Health Farmers Market, most of that money stays within the Hickory area. Small farms and food businesses that sell direct-to-consumer do not depend on wholesale distribution margins, which means a larger percentage of each sale goes back to the producer — and back into the local economy. That is a meaningful difference from shopping at a national chain retailer.

Catawba County Public Health Farmers Market reflects Hickory's commitment to local food systems, creating a marketplace where producers and consumers can build lasting relationships grounded in trust and quality.

Catawba County Public Health Farmers Market participates in the SNAP/EBT program, allowing benefit recipients to purchase eligible fresh foods directly from local producers.