May 15, 2008

New and established farmers’ markets
open for business

ROANOKE—Virginia farmers’ markets are in full swing, with an increased number of markets, patrons and vendors.

The Historic Roanoke City Market is the oldest continuously operating farmers’ market in the commonwealth, according to Kathleen Kinsey, marketing and business recruitment manager.

“It’s been here 125 years, as long as the city has been,” Kinsey said. “It’s gone through good times and bad times. Even when downtown was not as prosperous, the farmers’ market and the farmers were still here.”

The market consists of at least 60 percent produce and plant vendors, along with artisans and crafters. “You don’t come to our market and find what you’d find anywhere else,” Kinsey said.

The market is open seven days a week, closing only on Christmas and New Year’s Day.

A newer venue is the Farmers in the Park market in Charlottesville. Located in Meade Park, the seasonal market is open on Wednesdays. City market manager Stephanie Anderegg-Maloy said it was fairly busy last year.

“It was a wonderful market. There are a lot of old trees, shade … a really nice feeling to it,” she said. “We had a lot of customers that were really excited to have us there.”

Charlottesville also is home to the larger Charlottesville City Farmers’ Market, which is open on Saturdays.

“It’s a good thing to have a mid-week market,” Anderegg-Maloy said, to provide “items people run out of during the middle of the week and want to pick up more.”

To find local farmers’ markets, visit the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Web site at www.vdacs.virginia.gov/vagrown/index.shtml or the Virginia Association for Biological Farming’s Web site at www.vabf.org/fmark.php.

Contact Kinsey at 540-342-2028 or Anderegg-Maloy at 434-970-3371.