There is nothing like biting into a fresh apple or hearing that snap as you pick a newly ripened tomato from the root. Staying healthy may be on your mind, or you may just enjoy the feeling you get knowing your supporting a local Charlotte business.F Whatever the case may be, the Charlotte area offers a wide variety of farmer's markets and local farms where you can get some of the best produce, meats, and eggs in the area. Local growers and farmers take pride in their product and you are sure to spend much less on high quality foods than you would at the local grocery store. If you don't have time to go to the farmers market every week, many farms offer a farm share program for one low annual or monthly cost. You can grab a bundle of food from local growers and farmers at one pick-up location. The farm share programs found at many farmer's markets in the area make it easy to support local farms and enjoy organic sustainable good & home grown foods.

Here is a definitive list of some of Mecklenburg County's finest farmer's markets:

1. Atherton Market at Atherton Mill 

2104 South Boulevard, Charlotte. Hours: 9-6 Monday-Saturday for the Market and 9-2 Saturdays for the farm stand. 

2. NoDa Farmers Market

701 E. 36th Street, Charlotte. Hours: 9-noon on Saturdays year-round. 

3. 7th Street Public Market 

224 E. Seventh Street, Charlotte. Hours: 7-7 Monday-Thursday, 7am-8pm Friday, 8:30am-8pm Saturdays and 8:30am-5pm Sundays (individual vendor hours may vary).

4. Charlotte Regional Farmer's Market 

*One of Charlotte's biggest markets! 1801 Yorkmont Road, Charlotte. Hours: 8am-5pm (now open year-round!)

5. Cotswald Farmer's Market 

309 S. Sharon Amity Road, Charlotte. Hours: 8am-noon May 7-October 29. 

6. Cornelius Farmer's Market 

Harbor light blvd. Cornelius NC. Next to the Yacht Club. Every Thursday  from 3pm  til 7:30pm. 

7. Davidson Farmer's Market 

128 Main Street, Davidson NC. Hours: 8am-noon Saturdays through Thanksgiving. 9-11am every other Saturday November-March. 

8. Huntersville Farmer's Market 

200 Gilead Road Huntersville, NC. Hours: 8am-noon Saturdays May 21-September 24

9. Kings Drive Farmer's Market 

938 S. Kings Drive, Charlotte. Hours: 6am-8pm Fridays, 6am-3pm Saturdays, and daily during the entire month of October. 

10. Matthew's Community Farmer's Market 

188 N. Trade Street, Matthews NC. Hours: 8am-noon Saturdays April-November, 8-10am Saturdays December-March. 

11. Mecklenburg County Market 

1515 Harding Place, Charlotte. Hours: 9am-6pm Mondays-Tuesdays, 7am-6pm Wednesdays, 9am-6pm Thursdays-Fridays and 7am-3pm Saturdays year-round. y

12. Mint Hill Farmer's Market 

7601 Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Mint Hill, NC. Hours: Saturdays 9am-1pm Saturdays May 7-October. 

13. Newell Farmer's Market 

1704 Rocky River Road, Charlotte. Hours: Saturdays 9am-1pm

14. Pineville Farmer's Market 

100 Dover Street, Pineville, NC. Hours: Saturdays 8am-noon, May 14-Labor Day. 

15. Rosa Parks Farmer's Market

2845 Beaties Ford Road, Charlotte. Hours: 10am-2pm Tuesdays, June 7-September 27.

16. Village at Robinson Farm Market 

8410 Rea Road, Charlotte. Hours: 9am-3pm Wednesdays and Saturdays through October 29.