Farmer Foodshare, the nonprofit that collects donations at Triangle farmers' markets to buy fresh, local food for hunger relief agencies, is gearing up for a food and fundraising week.

From Tuesday to Saturday, Farmer Foodshare volunteers will be out at the markets trying to raise awareness about the problem of child hunger in North Carolina. (Our state is tied for first with Louisianna for children under 5 suffering from hunger.) One hundred percent of all donations will be used to purchase food from local farms for hunger agencies serving families. Or the public can buy food at the market and donate it at the Farmer Foodshare station for the same purpose. 

Many of the participating markets will offer children's activities and live music. 

Farmer Foodshare also is working with Chapel Hill's Community Empowerment Fund and Coon Rock Farm to purchase CSA's for two formerly homeless women. CSAs  or (community-supported-agriculture) cost between $300 and $500 and allow consumers to get a weekly share of produce from a local farm. The public can purchase a CSA from any local farmer and Farmer Foodshare will work with local agencies to connect that gift with a family in need. 

The participating markets and days next week (Sept. 18-22) include:

Tuesday: Fearrington Farmers Market
Wednesday: Carrboro Farmers Market
Thursday: Southern Village Farmers Market
Saturday: Carrboro Farmers Market, Chapel Hill Farmers Market, Chatham Mills Farmers Market, Durham Farmers Market, Eno River Farmers Market, Hillsborough Farmers Market, South Durham Farmers' Market, Western Wake Farmers Market

Two Durham-based food trucks, Chirba Chirba Dumpling and Pie Pushers, are teaming up with Coon Rock Farm to serve up lunch this weekend in Durham and Carrboro.

On Saturday, the trucks will be outside Motorco Music Hall in Durham from 12:30-4 p.m. Then on Sunday, the trucks will be parked outside Cliff's Meat Market in Carrboro from 12:30-4 p.m..

The trucks will be serving their pizza and dumplings using meat, vegetable and eggs from the Hillsborough farm.

The opening of the Raleigh Downtown Farmers' Market will be 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday on City Plaza in the 400 block of Fayetteville Street.

As part of the festivities, there will be free mini-cupcakes offered by market vendor, Sweet T, while supplies last and live music courtesy of Tims Bluegrass Band. And for those who want to eat, Zely & Ritz restaurant and Coon Rock Farm will be serving up grilled bratwurst sandwiches for $6 a piece and Solas restaurant will be serving up barbecue turkey sliders.

For more information, go to raleigheatlocal.com

Every Monday evening, Durham’s Piedmont restaurant offers a four-course meal for $35.

You can add wine pairings for an additional $10.

Piedmont has recently changed ownership. It is now owned by Eno Hospitality Group, which is a partnership between Coon Rock Farm founders Jamie DeMent and Richard Holcomb, Zely & Ritz owners Sarig Agasi and chef Marco Shaw.

This is a good opportunity to check out Shaw’s food. Shaw came to the Triangle from Portland where he owned Fife restaurant.

To see Shaw’s seasonal menus, go to www.piedmontrestaurant.com. For reservations, call 683-1213.