The Produce Lady
The Produce Lady program teaches farmers and consumers the wonders of locally grown fruits and vegetables. The program shares nutritional details, demonstrates how to prepare fresh produce as tasty meals and snacks, and advises how to preserve them to use throughout the year.
More Resources
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- Tomato Canning Demonstration (Video)
almanac gardener Show
Watch The Produce Lady on the “Almanac Gardener” show during the summer. During each show, she will demonstrate how to select, store, prepare and preserve a seasonally available fruit or vegetable. Episodes air on UNC-TV on Saturday at noon and again on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. and Monday at 2:30 p.m.
- June 25, 2011 – Peaches
- July 2, 2011 – Tomatoes
- July 23, 2011 – Watermelons
- August 13, 2011 – Sprite Melons
- August 27, 2011 – Apples
- September 3, 2011 – Pumpkins
Additional Resources
Activities and Materials
10 Tips for Getting Children to Eat Fresh Produce – Slide Show
(PDF) (Video)
Discover simple steps to introducing more fruits and vegetables into children’s diets with this slide show. From growing a garden to eating together as a family, this resource offers tips that can be shared as a handout at Cooperative Extension centers and farmers markets or posted on websites.
Farmers Market Treasure Hunt (PDF)
This educational activity sheet makes every market an adventure, as children scour local market stalls on a journey for tasty treasures! Along the way, they’ll discover delicious fruits and vegetables, meet their local farmers and learn about the wonders of North Carolina agriculture with their families. The treasure hunt makes for a terrific handout at farmers markets and is sure to put children on the path to a beautiful bounty of fruits and vegetables.
Fresh and Tasty from the Market – Healthy Eating Guide
This guide offers tips for shopping at the local farmers market, storing fresh produce, developing a healthy diet and consuming more fruits and vegetables. The attached recipes are quick and easy to prepare and they offer flexibility to create new dishes depending on what’s in season. This is a comprehensive resource for farmers and Extension professionals to share with consumers at direct markets, hand out at regional events or include with other educational materials. The booklet format of the guide makes for a tempting piece when placed on counters or openly displayed at a place of business. Extension agents should visit Agent Resources for information about ordering this resource.
Displays and Signs
5 Dos & Don’ts at the Farmers Market (PDF)
This simple handout provides five “dos” and “don’ts” for visitors to keep in mind while shopping at the farmers market. Print and share with farmers for distributing at their markets, incorporate into presentations aimed at farmers market organizers and vendors, or distribute at North Carolina agricultural events to encourage others to help increase awareness and knowledge of local farmers markets. Use this designed sheet as either a handout or insert into a plexiglas case as a display.
Program Overview Display (PDF)
Another useful display is The Produce Lady program overview sign. Use this display at events and trainings or as a handout for visitors at county Extension centers.
Recipes Display (PDF)
Useful tools for farmers market vendors are easy-to-prepare recipes using the produce they sell. A one-page (8.5 x 11) sign can be displayed in a plexiglas stand at a farmers market stall or event booth. Set out The Produce Lady recipe cards with the display to encourage visitors to purchase fresh produce items.
What’s in Season? (PDF)
Use this N.C. fruit and vegetable seasonal availability chart to choose the freshest local produce available.
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The Produce Lady program has developed an abundance of resources to help grow N.C. agriculture and educate people about the importance of locally grown fruits and vegetables. Feel free to “order” some of these materials at no cost by completing the form. The Produce Lady team will complete orders based on the availability of materials. Requests are considered on a first-come-first-served basis. Review the Resource Guide for more details on available materials. |
N.C. Strawberry Project Recipes
Sample strawberry recipes from Chef Mark Allison and students at Johnson & Wales University.
The Produce Lady Resources for Agents
Visit the Extension Agent Resources page for columns on fresh produce that you can localize for your area newspapers.
