Author: DowntownWhiteville

There is something exciting coming to #DowntownWhiteville: a new farmers market! Leading this effort is Lorie Burcham, co-owner of Hundredfold Farmstead. Starting on March 19th, 2026, the community will have a chance to enjoy sourdough bread, local honey, microgreens, produce and homemade pasta. Check out this Q&A below, about Lorie’s efforts and what to expect at the market, in conjunction with the town’s Music In The Alley promotions.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your backgroud.
“My name is Lorie Burcham, my husband and I are the owners of Hundredfold Farmstead. I am a Chef and Entrepreneur. I grew up in the Shallotte area but have spent the last 16 years in Nashville TN and just recently moved back and decided to make Whiteville our home! We really do love it here! My husband and I started the farmstead as a way to focus on slow, intentional living—growing food, creating things with our hands, and serving our community through what we produce.”

How you got started in the sourdough business?
“Sourdough really grew out of that philosophy. What started as baking bread for our own family and wanting to be more conscience of the quality of food we consume quickly turned into something that our community fell in love with. People began asking for loaves, and before long we were doing local farmer’s markets and bread drops for our local customers. What makes sourdough special to me is that it represents patience, tradition, honest ingredients, and craftsmanship—things that we feel are often missing in the fast-paced world we live in today.”

What inspired you to pursue this project with starting a market event in Downtown Whiteville?

“I have always believed strongly in supporting local communities and creating spaces where small businesses can thrive. Downtown Whiteville already has such a unique charm and a strong sense of community, and it felt like the perfect place to bring people together.

The idea behind the market is really about creating an experience—somewhere families can come, enjoy music on an evening that Whiteville is already doing their “Music in the Alley” event, they will now have the opportunity to visit with local vendors, try some of their products and spend time together while supporting small businesses. When people gather in places like this, it strengthens the local economy and builds relationships within the community.”

When is the first event? What should the public expect to see and experience?

“The first event will take place on Thursday, March 19th, and will continue every other Thursday evening through November in Downtown Whiteville.

Visitors can expect a lively and welcoming atmosphere with around 30 local vendors, live music through the Music in the Alley event, and a chance to explore the downtown social district. There will be a variety of vendors including farmers, bakers, artisans, and small business owners offering handmade goods, fresh foods, and unique products

It will really be a place where people can walk around, enjoy the evening, listen to music, grab dinner from a local restaurant, and support local vendors all at the same time.”

What do you hope to gain or accomplish with the market event?

“My biggest hope is that the market becomes something that truly serves the community. I would love to see it become a place where local entrepreneurs can grow their businesses and where residents and visitors alike can experience the creativity and talent that exists here.

Long-term, I hope it helps bring even more life and momentum to Downtown Whiteville and encourages people to see it as a destination for community gatherings, local shopping, and entertainment.”

Could you name a few of the partners involved?

“This event is truly a collaborative effort. I have been working with Madison Ward and Emily Cross on making this happen. Community Leaders are very much on board, and local organizations who share the same vision of bringing more activity and opportunity to the downtown area. Events like this only work when multiple people and businesses come together with the same goal of supporting the community.”

Anything that you would like to share about other partnerships in downtown?

“Downtown businesses are such an important part of what makes this event special. When people come to the market, they are also discovering the restaurants, shops, and businesses that already exist downtown. We hope that many of the businesses will even consider extending their business hours so the public can enjoy all that our Downtown has to offer.

We have partnered with Penn’s Grill to be our space for our weekly local bread drop for our sourdough here in the community as we do not have a public retail space yet. We are currently doing that drop every Friday! Shameless Plug here.. If you’re interested in ordering from us please visit our Hotplate link to see what we offer. https://www.hotplate.com/hundredfoldfarmstead

Helen at Penn’s has been very gracious to allow us to do our drops at their location and we hope that that will bring even more people in to eat with them as well. It’s about supporting each other.”

Why Downtown? What solidified your choice for downtown as a location?

“Downtown Whiteville has a character and charm that I feel is often overlooked. The historic setting, the walkability, and the presence of local businesses and the “Social District” set up, make it the perfect environment for a market.

When you combine the market with the Music in the Alley event and the social district, it creates a natural gathering place where people can relax and enjoy the evening together.”

How can more people get involved with what you are doing?

“There are several ways people can get involved. Local businesses and artisans can apply to become vendors, community members can help spread the word, and residents can simply come out and support the market.

To get more info on being a vendor, email Emily at ecross@ci.whiteville.nc.us

The more people who participate—whether as vendors, partners, or visitors—the stronger the event becomes.”

How do you feel this event will complement other events and produce markets in town and across the county?

“This market is meant to complement existing events rather than replace them. Every market has its own personality and focus, and we believe that having multiple events throughout the county actually helps strengthen the local economy.

Our goal is to create another opportunity for vendors and farmers to connect with customers while also bringing more people into Downtown Whiteville on a regular basis.”

Anything else that you would like to share with the public?

“I would just encourage everyone to come out and experience it for themselves. Events like this are about community—supporting small businesses, enjoying time with friends and family, and celebrating what makes our town unique.

We are excited to see it grow and become something that the community looks forward to throughout the year.”