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Regional Farmers Markets Offer Healthy Fare
From humble general stores in the River Country, to the advent of the convenience store over 90 years ago, Americans have been looking for easier, sometimes cheaper, and it seems, much larger places to shop. Supermarkets offer endless options, and consumers can even check themselves out and pay for their purchases without as much as a hello from a single store employee.
Mega-superstores sell everything in bulk from car tires to diapers, 15 pounds of pork chops and 20 pounds of potatoes farmed on corporate-owned land. A trip to the store—an outing that was once an opportunity for social interaction—now offers automatic shopping but little or no contact with people.
What happened to buying milk, meat, and produce directly from the farmer?
The answer is you still can, and there is no reason not to. The farmer’s market still thrives, and there’s no easier way to buy local and eat healthy. Two existing farmer's markets right here in the land of Pleasant Living trace their roots back to the 18th century. The 17th Street Farmer’s Market in Richmond is “one of the oldest in the nation,” according to its manager, George Bolos. Chartered in the 1730s and originally located on First Street, the market has been a place of commerce for nearly three centuries. Originally indoors, the market took permanent residence on 17th Street after the Civil War. Bolos notes, “That market burned to the ground in the 1870s, and was replaced with the modern outdoor market.”
Another regional market, the Williamsburg Farmer’s Market managed by Libby Oliver, is said to have begun in Jamestown in 1722, and though it has closed and re-opened throughout the years, according to Oliver, “The market became seriously organized in 2001.” This act was courtesy of a non-profit co-op formed by Ms. Oliver, local restaurateurs Tom Power and Tom Austin, and several other individuals and organizations such as the Merchant Square Association, Colonial Williamsburg, and the city of Williamsburg. “The committee was formed to help save farmland from development and bring locals back to downtown Williamsburg,” Oliver says.
Though both markets operate strictly under U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines set for food safety, the Williamsburg Farmer’s Market is proud to stand alone as a producer-only market. According to Oliver, “Vendors must have had a hand in production of materials.” Along with this stipulation, all materials have to be from Virginia. Nothing grown, raised, or produced outside of the state is allowed for sale within market’s confines.
Richmond's 17th Street market can boast an “almost exclusively local vendor base-within 100 miles,” according to Bolos.
Encouraging the economic growth of the state by buying direct from its citizens is just one of the ways this old-fashioned form of commerce trumps the new age mega-mart. Additionally, the farmer’s market puts the social and safe aspect back into grocery shopping. Libby Oliver notes that the farmer’s market setting “gives us a sense of community by bringing people together in a relaxed atmosphere.” Especially with regard to last year’s food-borne illness outbreaks, Bolos comments, “The difference is you get to look at the grower face-to-face and meet them and be assured what you’re buying isn’t going to kill you.” As opposed to corporate-owned farms, the pride of farmer’s market vendors reflects their employees, and fosters and ensures safe growing and harvesting environments for their products. “Farmers often welcome consumers to visit their farms…to see that livestock is raised humanely, for example,” said Oliver. “It’s important to be able to put a face with your food.”
Healthy products abound at the markets. The number of certified organic growers is increasing every season, and growing methods are improving without the use of genetic engineering. At the 17th Street market, a select group of vendors have looked to alternative ways of growing without using chemically altered products. “Several farmers grow hydroponically,” says Bolos. This method of growing without the use of soil, using only water, alleviates the risk of diseases plants can contract through soil, as well as the need for using chemicals to advance production. Bolos adds that using the method of hydroponics lowers the harvesting time for lettuce “from ninety to thirty-nine days.” As far as livestock is concerned, both markets offer selections of free-range chickens, grass-fed beef, and employ private fisherman. “The fish selection is based on what’s caught” said Oliver. It doesn’t get any fresher than that.
Most markets have a consistent running season from spring to fall, with scattered weekend or once-a-month markets operating during the colder months. The Williamsburg Farmer’s Market opens full time beginning May 2nd, running through October 31st on Saturdays from 8 A.M.–noon. Oliver says, “One was called off during a nor’easter and one in fear of a hurricane, but otherwise, the market goes on.” Richmond’s 17th Street Farmer’s Market runs through December 6th. Bolos says the market will be open on Wednesdays through Saturdays with varying hours. Also, beginning May 29th and running until September 4th, the market is introducing “Red, White, and Brew,” a celebration of Virginia wines and micro-brewed beers available every Friday from 4–8 P.M..
Farmer’s markets are the backbone of agricultural commerce in our country. We’re lucky they have endured drastic commercial changes and continue to hold on. These markets provide us with a venue for socialization and community building in an atmosphere where safely produced, healthy products have been sold for centuries and continue to be.
Want to live longer? Visit one of these farmer’s markets—or one in your local area-for the freshest local bounty. And support your local growers. Here’s to your good health!
Farmer’s Markets in PL Territory
Kilmarnock Farmers Market
- Open on:
- The 4th Saturday of the month
- From May to October
- 9 A.M.–1 P.M.
- For info, contact Brian McArdle at 804-435-2182 or
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.
Fredericksburg Farmers Market
- Open from 6 A.M. ’til dusk Monday through Saturday
- For best products, folks are encouraged to come Friday and Saturday mornings
- For info, e-mail
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or
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. or call 540.372.1010.
Gloucester County Farmers Market
- GloCo Farmer’s Market:
- May 9th and 30th, June 13th and 27th
- Every 2nd and last Saturday of the month
- For info, contact
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or call 804.693.9534.
Heathsville Farmers Market
- May 16, June 20
- For info, call 804-580-3377.
Irvington Farmers Market
- Open:
- May 2 and June 6
- First Saturday of the month, May through December
- 9 A.M.–1 P.M.
- For info, call Liliane Merrill at 804-438-9088, or
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.
Newport News Farmers Market
- Open year-round
- Wednesday through Friday 10 A.M.–6 P.M.
- Saturday 9 A.M.–6 P.M.
- Winter hours
- Friday 10 P.M.–5 P.M.
- Saturday 9 A.M.–5 P.M.
- For info, call 757.247.2351 or
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.
Richmond Markets
17th Street Farmer’s Market
- Open:
- Wednesdays 3 P.M.–7 P.M.
- Thursdays 10 A.M.–7 P.M.
- Fridays 4 P.M.–8 P.M.
- Saturdays 10 A.M.–4 P.M.
- For info, visit their Web site or call 804.646.0477.
West End Farmer’s Market
- Every Wednesday and Saturday, 8 A.M.–noon.
- For info, visit their Web site, e-mail
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, or call 804.364.8213.
Westmoreland County
Great Falls VA Community Farmers Market
- Saturday 8 A.M.–noon
- Starting May 3rd and running through November 1st
- For info, e-mail
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or call 202.296.2996.
Williamsburg
Williamsburg Farmers Market
- May through October
- Every Saturday, 8 A.M.–noon.
- June through August
- For info, call 757-259-3768 or visit their Web site.
Yorktown
Yorktown Market Days
- On:
- May 17th
- June 14th–28th
- July 12th–August 23rd
- September 13th and 27th
- October 11th
- November 15th
- December 13th.
- From 8 A.M.–12 P.M.
- For info, call 757.890.3500 or visit their Web site.
For just about everything you need to know about Virginia’s farmers markets, visit “Virginia Farmers’ Markets,” maintained by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
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