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Norcross Green Community Certification

The Sustainable Norcross Commission is a volunteer citizen advisory panel to the mayor and city council. These volunteers led the City’s drive to become certified as a Green Community by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC). Since 2011 Norcross has been certified at the Gold level and this year, they have submitted an application for Platinum certification, which is the new top level.

The ARC Green Communities program challenges local governments and their citizens to live sustainably. Following the UN initiatives, the Green Communities program helps communities meet the needs of the present without jeopardizing the ability of future generations to meet their needs. One of the many Green Community initiatives calls for the city government to “support and designate space for farmers markets”. When the former farmers market closed, Sustainable Norcross conducted a survey of its citizens to explore interest in continuing a local market. The response was very positive. Citizens were enthusiastic, eager to share their ideas and provided great feedback about the things they would like to see in a Norcross farmers market. The survey results showed that although the citizens wanted the market to focus on food, they were also interested in creating a community experience. They wanted the market to become a venue for community engagement and suggested live music and activities for families and children. The Sustainable Norcross Commission listened and implemented their ideas.

Grow Well

• Inspiration through engaging and educational photography and graphics
• Direction through tips, case studies, and resource links
• Instruction through video tutorials and informative downloads
• Methods to grow and harvest the freshest fruits and vegetables
• Challenges to think beyond ourselves, care for the earth, our resources and one another
• Information about Community Gardens

Saturday

Before 10 AM

Farmers Deliver Customer Orders to Cumming Harvest

10 AM until Noon

Customers Pick Up Orders at Cumming Harvest

Sweet Peppers

Hot Peppers

1. Carmen Italian Sweet Peppers

Don’t be fooled by its conical shape and bright red color, the Carmen Italian Pepper is actually very sweet, not the least bit hot. Although some people enjoy this pepper while it’s green, the sweet flavor is fully developed when it turns red. Each cone or horn-shaped fruit is very large, averaging about 6” in length. These crisp peppers are delicious sliced into strips for snacking, chopped in a salad, grilled or roasted whole.

3. Poblano Peppers

When mature, Pablano peppers average 4” to 6” in length. They are heart shape and can be curled slightly. As they ripen these peppers turn from a deep green to a deep red. Although many describe it as a mild hot pepper, the redder it gets, the hotter it gets! The Poblano is one of the most popular in Mexico, commonly used in Chile Rellenos, stuffed with meat or cheese. When dried, Pablano peppers are called Ancho Chiles, which can be used to season a variety of sauces.

2. California Wonder Sweet Bell Peppers

The delicious California Wonder bell peppers are very versatile. Like the Carmen variety, they’re sweet and their flavor fully develops when they turn red. They are predictably uniform in shape and size so they are great for stuffing. However, they’re also crisp and delicious eaten raw in a salad or snack. California Wonders are also sturdy and hold up very well on the grill.

4. Jalepeno Peppers

These beautiful little peppers pack some heat. Like the Pablano, Jalepenos can be eaten green but left on the vine they turn bright red. The redder they get, the hotter they will be. Jalepeno skins may also crack on the surface creating a striped effect along the pepper. This is called “corking” and it occurs naturally during growth spurts. Corking usually indicates that the pepper will be hotter. In many countries, the Jalepenos with corking are considered the most valuable.

2. California Wonder Sweet Bell Peppers

The delicious California Wonder bell peppers are very versatile. Like the Carmen variety, they’re sweet and their flavor fully develops when they turn red. They are predictably uniform in shape and size so they are great for stuffing. However, they’re also crisp and delicious eaten raw in a salad or snack. California Wonders are also sturdy and hold up very well on the grill.

4. Jalepeno Peppers

These beautiful little peppers pack some heat. Like the Pablano, Jalepenos can be eaten green but left on the vine they turn bright red. The redder they get, the hotter they will be. Jalepeno skins may also crack on the surface creating a striped effect along the pepper. This is called “corking” and it occurs naturally during growth spurts. Corking usually indicates that the pepper will be hotter. In many countries, the Jalepenos with corking are considered the most valuable.