By Steve Cook :
A visit to a bustling local farmers’ market offers a fantastic multi-sensory experience. It’s a virtual feast for the eyes, the ears, the nose, and most vividly, the taste. From the moment you arrive, you are bombarded with a dazzling array of colorful fruits and vegetables, accompanied by the sounds of, perhaps, local buskers, children’s laughter, and vendors hawking their fresh, flavorful wares. Approach each vendor’s stand, and delight in the aroma of fresh produce, baked goods, and other delectables, which waft seductively through the market. And just wait until your taste buds get hold of a rich, ripe apple or a juicy strawberry. Plus, we haven’t even mentioned the satisfaction of knowing that you’re supporting your local farmers and other businesses. Yes, the joys of shopping at the farmers’ markets are innumerable.
Where can one find such joy? Here are a few local favorites:
Goochland Farmers Market – 1889 Sandy Hook Road
GoochlandVA.us/1392/FarmersMarket
Why wait for the weekend? You can shop at the Goochland Farmers Market every Tuesday. And, unlike many area farmers markets, which are open mornings only, this boutique market has afternoon hours – from 4 to 6:30 p.m. You’ll discover farm-fresh seasonal produce, grass-fed poultry, beef, pork, lamb, fruits, berries, honey, baked goods, and select artisan crafts. Operated by the County’s Parks & Recreation Department, this market offers a park-like setting in which to shop, enjoy tasty treats from local food trucks, and even listen to some live, local entertainment. It all makes for a pleasant sunny summer afternoon in Goochland.
Mama Kelly’s Market – 12302 Patterson Avenue
Facebook.com (Search Mama Kelly’s Market)
When you shop at Mama Kelly’s Market, you don’t have to wait at all because Mama Kelly’s is open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. seven days a week. Mama Kelly is Kelly Minnozi. She’s been running the market for about eight years. Technically, this is a farm-to-table produce stand and not a true farmers market. But who’s going to quibble over verbiage. Kelly and her team, which includes her daughter Amber Healy, shop the local farms for the freshest produce. And when we say fresh, we truly mean fresh. “It’s never refrigerated or kept in cold storage like they do in the grocery stores,” Kelly says. She explains that refrigerating fresh fruits and vegetables can change the flavors and the tastes. When you shop for tomatoes, strawberries, watermelons, butterbeans, or other local produce at Mama Kelly’s, it’s about the same as if you picked ‘em from your own garden and ate them. Speaking of tomatoes, this time of year, you’re going to find fresh, delicious Hanover tomatoes and heirlooms at Mama Kelly’s.
Worth the Drive
RVA Big Market – Bryan Park (4308 Hermitage Road)
GrowRVA.com
Owned and operated by Karen and Doug Grisevich of Grow RVA, The Big Market is, indeed, a big market. No! Make that a huge market. It’s perhaps more reminiscent of an old-timey carnival with local entertainment, food trucks, farmers, bakers, crafts people and a host of other vendors. Many of the vendors accept SNAP/EBT.
During the warmer months, the market operates from 8 a.m. until noon every Saturday. To learn more, check out the weekly lineup on their Facebook page.
