Virginia Farmers Markets

A trip to your local farmers market is a great way to stock up on fresh fruits, vegetables, produce, herbs, flowers, garden plants, seafood, meats, cheeses, poultry, breads, jellies, jams, arts and crafts and more.

The Virginia Beach Farmers Market features a variety of merchants offering seasonal, fresh vegetables, fruits and other products. Vendors include an organic grocer, butcher shop, dairy store, flower gift shop, candy and bakery shop, restaurant, nature gifts and specialty gift stores and a home and garden gift store.

Old Beach Farmers Market is a quaint open air market that gathers in the parking lot of Croc's 19th Street Bistro, a local neighborhood restaurant along the 19th Street Corridor in the heart of the Virginia Beach resort near the Old Beach.

This large facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore has indoor and outdoor vendors. The market has every type of fresh produce, fruits, jams, breads, seafood, lunches and more.

The Newport News Farmers Market offers farmers, gardeners, seafood retailers and other select vendors the opportunity to market home-grown and crafted products. The open air market includes10,000 feet of covered vending space. Parking is available and the market is easily reached from I64/I664, as well as major city streets.

Shoppers will find the freshest produce from local farmers and gardeners as well as fresh fish, fresh-frozen seafood, cheeses and meats. Other items include bedding plants, cut flowers, baked goods and hand made crafts. The Market is open year-round.

The 17th Street Farmers' Market in Richmond is perhaps Virginia's oldest farmers market, dating back to 1737. Open May through October.

This open-air market offers fresh, local produce and products including seasonal organic vegetables and fruits, seafood, meat, poultry, cheese, plants and cut flowers, herbs, baked goods, chocolate, honey, and chocolate. Located in Merchants Square, Duke of Gloucester Street between Henry and Boundary Streets in downtown Williamsburg, Virginia.

For more information visit: www.williamsburgfarmersmarket.com

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) has announced that six Virginia farmers markets were ranked in the Top 20 in "American's Favorite Farmers Market Contest" sponsored by the American Farmland Trust (AFT). Only California had more markets in the Top 20 with a total of seven. AFT announced the results Saturday, August 8, which was the last day of Farmers Market Week.

More than 800 markets signed up to participate in the contest. Voters could vote for their favorite market in one of three categories, small, medium or large. Markets are categorized by the number of vendors at each. A small market has 30 vendors or less; medium markets support 31 to 55 vendors and large markets are those with more than 55 vendors.

Among medium markets, Williamsburg ranked number one nationwide. Historic Roanoke came in at number seven, Yorktown at number eight and Goochland at number 19. In the small category, Fairfax ranked number three and Virginia Beach ranked sixth. Click here for a list of the Top 20 markets.

"I am not at all surprised that Virginia had six farmers markets ranked in the Top 20 nationally," said Todd P. Haymore, VDACS Commissioner. "Farmers markets are a vital part of life in Virginia. They've become the new social gathering place, and they are a great way to meet the people who grow and raise your food and fiber. Because Virginia's industry of agriculture is so diverse, so are the offerings in our farmers markets. We have seen a tremendous growth in the number of markets in the last four years - from 88 in 2005 to 174 and counting today. I have shopped personally at several of our Virginia Top 20 markets," Haymore continued, "and I can see why their customers voted for them. Congratulations to all of our winners, and to all of our farmers who provide high quality, homegrown fruits, vegetables and more to our consumers."

The Chincoteague Island Farmer's Market is located next to the Robert Reed Downtown Park. The market features plants, produce, fresh clams, live lobsters and more. The market begins in April and will continues on Saturdays through September.

Virginia farmers have been growing peanuts since the early 1840's. Virginia's peanuts are grown in Southeastern Virginia's sandy soil where the climate is ideal for producing large peanuts.

Because of their size, Virginia peanuts have acquired the reputation of being the "Cadillac" of peanuts.

The Suffolk Farmers Market offers fruits, vegetables and plants including beans, corn, grapes, greens, melons, peanuts, squash, strawberries, sunflowers, tomatoes and more.

On 9/15/2009, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced that $4.8 million will be awarded to local organizations in 14 states to build community food systems and fight hunger and food insecurity. This announcement comes as part of USDA's 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food,' initiative, a department-wide collaboration that will connect people more closely with the farmers who supply their food and increase the production, marketing and consumption of fresh, nutritious food that is grown locally in a sustainable manner.

"Building local sustainable food systems to be proactive in fighting hunger and obesity is a priority for the Obama Administration, and USDA's 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative will help meet that goal," Merrigan said. "These grants put funds in low-income communities that struggle with access to healthy food and they are an important step toward achieving our goal of having healthy, nutritious food available to everyone, especially children."

source: USDA