Virginia Farmers’ Market Week Aug. 2-8

It’s official. According to a proclamation by Governor Terence R. McAuliffe, Aug. 2-8 is Farmers’ Market Week in Virginia. In the proclamation, Governor McAuliffe says that farmers’ market in Virginia have grown dramatically, from 88 markets in 2006 to nearly 250 in 2015.

What has caused this dramatic growth? According to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), these markets play a vital role in giving Virginia farms direct access to consumers, and consumers direct access to farmers. Farmers’ markets spur economic development, foster community engagement, support local farmers and, best of all, provide fresh, nutritious food for Virginians.

August is the best time to enjoy the bounty of the summer season. At farmers’ markets across the Commonwealth, families will find Virginia Grown tomatoes, corn, squash, peaches, melons, berries, flowers and more harvested at the peak of flavor, freshness and nutrition.

Virginians can find markets in rural and urban neighborhoods across the state. To celebrate Virginia Farmers’ Market Week, VDACS offers a few suggestions:

• For National Night Out August 4, serve your neighbors and guests an all-Virginia snack of local fruits and berries from your farmers’ market with ice cream from an in-state creamery. Some of these, like the Moo-Thru in Remington, Carl’s in Fredericksburg, Kline’s in Harrisonburg or Bev’s Ice Cream in Richmond, are legendary.
• Give children a few dollars and encourage them to buy their favorite vegetable for dinner and let them help prepare it.
• Have a potluck dinner where guests bring a dish or two from products bought at a local farmers’ market. Up the ante by asking everyone to bring one item from the market to decorate the tables. Give prizes for the most unusual dish, the best-tasting dessert or the most creative decoration.
• Pledge to spend $10 a week (or more) at your favorite farmers’ market for a chance to win a Virginia Grown/Virginia Finest gift basket through the “Farm. Fresh. Pledge!” program. Pick up your pledge card at participating farmers markets.

VDACS maintains a list of Virginia farmers’ markets by region on VirginiaGrown.com. Farmers’ markets are invited to add or update their listing. Market managers, vendors and consumers are encouraged to follow VDACS on Twitter and Facebook.