Jump into Spring with the Year's First Culinary Offerings

Your vacation on the beach here in beautiful Topsail would never be a true vacation without delicious, fresh, local food. And no food is more local, nor more fresh, than what you can find at a farmers market and prepare for yourself. 

Poplar Grove Plantation Market

Opening this month for the season, and staying open and active through September, the Poplar Grove Plantation hosts a lovely farmers market every Wednesday from 8AM until 1PM. The grounds of this historic plantation are open for free on market day - a delightful treat for those inclined to stroll as well as shop. 

There are several vendors who are signed up to offer their wares this year to the curious (and hungry!) public. For those looking for seasonal, delicious, local produce, there are a couple delightful options: Sycamore Spring Farms and Turner Family Farms. In fact, Turner Family Farms even has a Facebook page that you can look at.   

Perfect for the Whole Family 

The beautiful Poplar Grove Plantation doesn't just boast a farmers market. In fact, this historic spot has something for everyone. Not only are there an abundance of delicious food stands and gorgeous grounds to roam, there is also an animal sanctuary! There children can become aquatinted with many animals that would be found in a 19th century farmyard, such as sheep, goats, rabbits, chickens, horses, and pigs. In fact, pigs were once a major source of income for the Foy family, who owned the Poplar Grove Plantation from the late 1700s all the way up until 1971. Some of the farms free range chicken eggs are even available for purchase in the gift shop and would be a perfect accompaniment to any beautiful produce discovered in the farmers market held on the property. 

The Poplar Grove Animal sanctuary is also home to an Equine Rescue program where neglected, abused, and unwanted horses, donkeys and ponies can find a safe home and recover. Volunteer staff are more than happy to discuss the important work they are doing with young and old alike. 

The entrance fee to the Animal Sanctuary is $5.00 per person, though all children-in-arms are free.

There's No Need to Cook

If you don’t feel like cooking but still want the delightful farmers market experience, never fear! There are multiple vendors for you to choose from who sell all kinds of pre-made food items as well as hand crafted items. 

There are vendors who specialize in backed goods, jellies and jams, meats and spice rubs, locally roasted coffee, and even baklava and moussaka. There is also a vendor who offers muscadine wine and scuppernong grapes, both of which are local delights. If you have never had a scuppernong grape - a delicious fruit almost the size of a small plum bursting with sweetness - or the various things made from it, then you are in for a treat.

To top it all off, there are several vendors offering all kinds of handcrafted art. Some sell handcrafted baskets, hand painted bowls, handcrafted cutting boards and furniture, and also micro-macrame along with silver filigree jewelry. A few vendors even offer delightful, hand crafted soaps, body oils, lotions, and other such lovely potions. If you would like to further check out the delightful offerings of the farmers market you can look at this webpage here.

Farmers markets are such delightful places, brimming with surprises and local color. During your visit with us you really must indulge in a visit to the one located on the Poplar Grove Plantation.