Brown Bag It

Brown bag lunches made with local ingredients are making a comeback as delicious and cost-effective cuisine. "Fresh, quality food from farmers markets is good for your body, your planet, and your community," says Hollace Stephenson, chef and owner of Tastemakers of Charlotte catering. "a produce is harvested when ripe, so it's packed full of nutrients." To please your taste buds and your budget, shop for Hollace's brown bag lunch suggestions at your favorite farmers market.

Exclusively @charlottemagazine.com
Find recipes for these items as well as other recipes featuring local ingredients for a few more lunchtime possibilities.

Goat cheese, prosciutto, basil tartine

Goat cheese
Bosky Acres
704-843-5947
$6.99 at Earthfare SouthPark

Proscuitto
Grateful Growers
828-234-5182
$20 per pound at Charlotte Tailgate Farmers Market

Basil
Small City Farm
704-962-1025
$2 per bunch at Charlotte Tailgate Farmers Market

Baguette
Down Home Baking Co.
704-806-0208
$2 French baguette, $3 Italian baguette at Charlotte Tailgate Farmers Market

Extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper

Gazpacho to Go

Green peppers
Fisher Farms
704-239-1719
Market price ranges from 25 cents to $1 per pepper at Charlotte Regional Farmers Market

Tomatoes
Small City Farm
704-962-1025
$3 per pound at Charlotte Tailgate Farmers Market

Cucumber
Small City Farm
704-962-1025
$2 per pound at Charlotte Tailgate Farmers Market

Zucchini
N Thyme Farm
980-721-5847
$3 per pound

Jalapeño pepper
Nise's Herbs
704-485-3857
$3 per pound at Charlotte Regional Farmers Market