North Carolina Cooperative Extension - Stanly County

05/07/2026

The 1st of our 6 part Local Food Demos at the Albemarle Downtown Farmers Market kicks off this Saturday!!! Come see us... free fresh samples until 11am or until the food runs out!

🚨🚨Big things are cooking at the Albemarle Downtown Farmers Market—and we’re kicking it off THIS SATURDAY, May 9th, with the launch of our brand-new MONTHLY COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS! 🍅🥕

Join us for a 90-minute Flavor Experience designed to inspire you to cook fresh, simple, and delicious meals using ingredients you can find right here at the market.

🍳 90-Minute Flavor Experience Schedule

9:30 AM – 10:00 AM | Live Cooking Demonstration
Watch as we prepare a featured recipe using market-fresh ingredients, with a focus on the “Med Flip”—healthy Mediterranean-inspired twists on local favorites.

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Free Samples & Nutrition Q&A
Taste the finished dish and stick around for a relaxed Q&A session packed with practical nutrition tips, cooking ideas, and ways to make the most of your market finds.

🌿 Proud Partnership

This program is made possible through our partnership with
NC Cooperative Extension - Stanly County
bringing hands-on nutrition education and community-centered food learning directly to our market.

This is just the beginning—happening every second Saturday!

Come hungry, bring a friend, and get ready to experience your farmers market in a whole new way😋

05/05/2026

Today, Tuesday, May 5, 2026, is Senior Spirit Day at the E.E. Waddell Center in Albemarle!Our Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Agent, Hayley Cowell, and our dedicated Extension Master Food Volunteers (EMFVs) are on-site to help you "eat smart, move more, and live well."Stop by the N.C. Cooperative Extension booth from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM for:
Healthy Living Resources: Grab tips on home food preservation, "Med Way" eating, and stretching your food dollar.
Nutrition Demonstrations: Learn about the benefits of seasonal produce and practical strategies for portion control.
Community Connection: Discover upcoming classes, like our L.I.F.T. sessions and nutrition workshops.

04/30/2026

More Flavor, Less Salt! 🌿🍋
Just wrapped up Session 7 of LIFT at the New London nutrition site! Today’s pre-workout lesson was all about "Leveling Up" our nutrition using the Mediterranean Way.We learned how to ditch the salt shaker and use the "Flavor Swap" instead:
Acidity is Key: A squeeze of lemon or lime "wakes up" veggies just like salt does!
The Power Duo: Using garlic and onions as a base for every savory dish.
The Herb Rule: Dried herbs go in at the start; fresh herbs (like parsley or cilantro) at the end for that bright finish.
Fueling my body with antioxidants and then hitting that "3x8" fitness focus! 💪✨

04/29/2026

Just finished a hands-on "Cooking for One" class at the Norwood Nutrition Site. Everyone built their own Mediterranean Power Bowl—packed with veggies, healthy fats, and plant based protein. It’s so great to learn practical tips for eating well when cooking for yourself. 👩‍🍳💙

04/28/2026

8 Stanly County Extension and Community Association Members attended the District Day Event held in Gaston County. There was a great presenter from Senior TLC and we had 18 Cultural Arts entries from Stanly County. ECA is always fun and educational!

04/28/2026

We had a wonderful time on our farm tour Friday morning! We visited Big Bear Creek in Millingport and learned about row crops then headed to the strawberry patch to learn about strawberry production! We all got to pick our own delicious strawberries!!

04/27/2026

Make sure to get your strawberries! They are delicious!!

04/27/2026

Make sure to go out and see all the great things the Commons Farmers Market has!! The vendors would love to see you!

04/25/2026

🍀

04/22/2026

🥗 Fresh Eats & Med Way Treats are coming soon!
Join us at the Albemarle Downtown Farmers Market every 2nd Saturday from May through October for a 90-minute flavor experience you won't want to miss! 🥕🥦
Our Extension Master Food Volunteers will show you how to do the "Med Flip"—giving your local favorites a healthy, Mediterranean-style twist.
Schedule:
✨ 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM: Live Cooking Demo
✨ 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Free Samples & Nutrition Q&A
📅 Save the Dates (2nd Saturdays):
May 9 | June 13 | July 11 | Aug 8 | Sept 12 | Oct 10
📍 Location: Market Station | 501 W. Main St.
📲 Want the recipes on your phone? Text HEALTH to 888-507-9628 to get monthly recipe cards and helpful market reminders. See you at the market! 🍓

04/22/2026

🌏 Happy Earth Day! Check out our 4-H Clubs and this fun pollination activity to do with the young people in your life. How are you celebrating this important day?

🌍 Happy Earth Day! Here at Stanly County 4-H, every day is Earth Day. Whether we're at 4-H Camp, an Extension Agent's youth program or a 4-H club meeting, we're often learning about (and in) the great outdoors.
🍀Come join us at an upcoming 4-H club meeting! https://stanly.ces.ncsu.edu/4-h-youth-development-3/our-clubs/
🐝 And try out this cool Earth Day activity to learn all about pollination - which makes life on this beautiful planet possible for all of us! https://ohio4h.org/earthday/beesness