National Farmers’ Market Week is August 7-13 and what a great reason to celebrate these robust and high-impact community spaces.
In Virginia, farmers market fans can follow the Virginia Farmer’s Market Trail and visit markets on the Northern Neck:
- Warsaw Community Market (Fridays)
- Heathsville Farmers Market (third Saturday, April to October)
- Irvington Farmers Market (first Saturday, April through November)
Want to visit more local markets? Head to
- Deltaville Maritime Museum and Holly Point Nature Park Market
- Mathews (every Saturday, April through October)
- Urbanna (second Saturday, May to September)
- Tappahannock (third Saturday, April to November)
As much as people love their local markets here on the Northern Neck, Reasons to be Cheerful explains that markets almost went the way of dinosaurs. The Spectacular Comeback of the American Farmers Market describes the ups and downs and ups again of this community institution, now more than 8,000 strong.
Virginia's experience parallels what is happening across the country:
“We are continuing to see shoppers using the markets to buy their fresh produce, their proteins, their fruits and vegetables, especially as we have ever-increasing prices at the grocery store,” said Kim Hutchinson, Virginia Farmers’ Market Association’s executive director. “Folks are wanting to support local, and we’re excited to see them continuing.”
Vendor presence is remaining steady too, Hutchinson said. While inflation and high gas prices have caused some regular vendors to cut back on the number of markets they attend, Hutchinson has seen an uptick in new farmers setting up booths. Many are people who began small homesteads during the COVID-19 pandemic and started selling their extra produce.
“We’re seeing some new local producers—small and beginning farms that are incubating their business at the market, so that’s been really exciting,” she said. (Source: Farmers’ Market Week celebrates community impact in Virginia)
And while it’s true that local markets are social and economic institutions, the fresh value of markets is too often unavailable to lower-income people. Virginia Fresh Match writes,
Farmers markets are on the rise in Virginia, with more than 250 locations selling everything from peas to peaches. Half already accept SNAP. But while Virginians spend over a billion dollars a year in SNAP, only two tenths of one percent ($200,327 in 2019) goes to farmers markets. When more SNAP money is spent on local produce, everyone benefits.
No markets on the NNK or southern Middle Peninsula accept SNAP. This can, and should, change.