How this Plaza Midwood market builds community through ‘food that makes you feel good’—physically and mentally

Here’s the thing: Central Food Hub didn’t start out with the intention of becoming a vegan vendors market.

When the original owner Pat Farrell started the market in 2013, her main goal was to make sure that local farmers had a place to sell their produce regularly, and that Charlotteans had access to buy fresh produce. Win-win, right?

Farrell has more than 40 years of experience in the field (no pun intended) of agriculture, and she’s been selling produce and other local products out of “The Barn” behind Pure Pizza on Central Ave. for more than five years now through Central Food Hub.

But when Farrell suffered major health issues in 2015, she decided it might be time to bring on an apprentice. So, in spring of 2016, Farrell took a chance on Cayla Crawford.

At the time, Crawford was between jobs and struggling with depression. She was searching not just for work, but for community and for a sense of purpose. When a friend of a friend connected her with Farrell, Crawford jumped at the opportunity to learn from her and help out with Central Food Hub however she could.

Farrell started training Crawford from the ground up (literally — starting with the soil) about the art of farming. She taught Crawford about feeding the soil, deterring pests, growing, and keeping produce fresh. She taught her how to care for produce through the market, how to maintain relationships with farmers, and how to keep the business running smoothly.

And two years later — just last week, actually — Central Food Hub has officially transferred the ownership of the business from Farrell to Crawford.

“Pat set the foundation so that we could build a community around healthy food,” said Crawford. “So we could show people that hey, you can get all those same fruits and vegetables that you buy at the grocery store here. And it’s just as tasty, and you’re supporting farmers — the actual people out there growing it — and it doesn’t make you feel bad when you eat it.”

And that’s where the whole “it wasn’t intended to start as a vegan market” part comes in. Central Food Hub was started as a general farmers market, hosted in The Barn behind Pure Pizza every Saturday morning. At that original Saturday market, the products didn’t have to be vegan. You could find things made with eggs or dairy, no problem — and you still can.

But as it turned out, a lot of the vendors at that market just so happened to offer vegan products. And despite the fact that they sold plant-based items, Central Food Hub wasn’t being promoted as a specifically vegan-friendly market.

So, it was decided that in addition to hosting its usual Saturday market, Central Food Hub would also begin hosting “Vegan Sundays” each Sunday morning/early afternoon in The Barn.

“The vendors don’t have to be totally vegan as a business, but we ask that they only sell vegan products on Sundays,” Crawford explained. “It’s a chance for people to get to know some of the local businesses that are providing the community with cruelty-free food and beverages, and to start the conversation about veganism, whether they are one or not.”

Crawford herself has been a vegan for three years now.

“For the animals,” she said of her transition. “For the planet. Peace starts on our plate. Veganism isn’t just about injustice of animals, it’s about all beings.”

But just because the market sells vegan products on Sundays  — that doesn’t make it a Vegans Only event.

“Vegan or not, we just want you to leave here with food that makes you feel good. Physically, yes, but also mentally,” said Crawford.

Even a non-vegan person can come to this market and leave with a big ol’ bag of produce, everything bagel flavored hummus from Hummus Among Us, and a dark chocolate cake with dark chocolate ganache from Craft Cakes CLT.

Owner of Craft Cakes CLT, Brigitte Oger, said she loves setting up at Central Food Hub because it feels like “a small microcosm of all the other farmers markets in Charlotte” where she can get more face time with her clientele.

“I considered the larger farmers markets,” said Oger, “but I thought there’d be so many people that I’d have to focus on getting products out, rather than being able to slow down and talk to people and get to know them — which is something I really value at this market. I get to talk to people about how our products are made, where they come from, why we make them that way. I prefer that to just filling one person’s order and moving onto the next one.”

One other key focus for Crawford has been diversifying the vendors at the market. She wants to ensure that people from all walks of life — regardless of age, economic status, race, gender identity, sexuality, or anything else  — feels welcome to set up and sell in this welcoming space. She feels the same way about the clientele.

“When I’m here, I feel like I’m home, I’m with my family,” she said. “People who come here, they’re part of the family.”

You can check out the standard Central Food Hub on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in The Barn behind Pure Pizza (1911 Central Ave.), or you can hit up The Barn for Vegan Sundays each week from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Keep an eye on the Central Food Hub Facebook to see which vendors will be at the market each week, and shoot an email to veganfarmersmarket@gmail.com if you’re interested in being a vendor.

Featured Image: Work For Your Beer.

Article Images: Central Food Hub.

This story was originally published July 19, 2018 at 2:00 AM with the headline "How this Plaza Midwood market builds community through ‘food that makes you feel good’—physically and mentally."