The Western Wake Farmers Market will celebrate National Farmers Market Week on Aug. 8 with Chef Sarig Agasi of Zely & Ritz, nutrition information, live jazz from A Touch of Dixie, face painting for the kids, plus prizes from market vendors.

The market is open from 8 a.m. to noon on Morrisville Carpenter Road at Carpenter Village through November, rain or shine, and more market information is online at WesternWakeFarmersMarket.org.

In celebration, Chef Agasi will offer free samples of gazpacho made with local ingredients from Coon Rock Farms. Marda Heuman, RD, LDN, of Heuman Nutrition, will talk about the health benefits of eating foods grown locally. Cary entertainer and artist LynneSue will be on hand from 10 a.m. until noon painting kids’ faces for free.

This year marks the 10th annual National Farmers Market Week. Since the U.S. Department of Agriculture first declared this event, the number of farmers markets has grown more than 60 percent. According to the USDA, there are approximately 4,800 markets in the country where consumers are increasingly buying foods grown locally.

The Western Wake market with more than 30 farmers and artisans, features N.C.-caught seafood, meats and eggs from grass-fed animals, seasonal fruits and vegetables, hand-crafted cheeses, coffee, breads, hand-made cleaning products and more.

“Shoppers in western Cary and Morrisville now have a great place to come each Saturday for seasonal produce and much more, as well as to meet up with friends, enjoy our musicians and learn from our educators,” said Jennifer Gibbs, WWFM operations manager. “Part of our mission is to educate people, and we’re doing that each week in a fun, inviting way.”

Educators have included chefs cooking with local ingredients, composting experts, butterfly gardening experts, and recycling and solar energy enthusiasts, among others.

The Western Wake Farmers Market mission is for all people in the community to become educated about and benefit from locally grown food.