Farmers Market: fake or real? (Centreville, Charlottesville: houses, to buy, auction)

[SRAKA]

I have noticed an explosion of farmers market in our area.

Centreville, Fairfax, Cascades, Herndon, Leesburg.

But the produce looks all the same, like it came from one distributor.

Do you all think those places are real or not?

Some seem very fishy....

[cdmurphy]

The markets run by the Loudoun Valley HomeGrown Markets Association (Sterling, Ashburn, Leesburg, Cascades, Purcellville, and Brambleton) are "producer-only" - the people selling the food are the ones who grow the food. If not, they're out of the program. Some of the vendors do participate in multiple markets, especially since some are on different days. You can always talk to the vendors and ask them about their produce.

[weezycom]

Some vendors will go to the produce warehouses up on Florida Ave NE and purchase wholesale to supplement their home-grown offerings.

Others grow primarily for the truck-farm market, so their produce needs to be uniform and picked earlier to meet the demands of that means of distribution, and they sell the overage on the farmers market circuit.

That's why it makes sense to go regularly and develop a knowledge of the different vendors so you can purchase from those who grow & sell their own.

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by cdmurphy

The markets run by the Loudoun Valley HomeGrown Markets Association (Sterling, Ashburn, Leesburg, Cascades, Purcellville, and Brambleton) are "producer-only" - the people selling the food are the ones who grow the food. If not, they're out of the program. Some of the vendors do participate in multiple markets, especially since some are on different days. You can always talk to the vendors and ask them about their produce.

You can also go out to the farms and see the produce growing, especially during the Spring Farm Tour and the Fall Farm Tour. By the way, this is a interesting thing to do. (But be realistic and try to visit only 4-5 farms at a time. Otherwise it gets tiring.)

[SRAKA]

Originally Posted by cdmurphy

The markets run by the Loudoun Valley HomeGrown Markets Association (Sterling, Ashburn, Leesburg, Cascades, Purcellville, and Brambleton) are "producer-only" - the people selling the food are the ones who grow the food. If not, they're out of the program. Some of the vendors do participate in multiple markets, especially since some are on different days. You can always talk to the vendors and ask them about their produce.

I understand that, but how can 5+ vendors at say Cascades market sell exactly the same stuff, for same price.

Same size, same price....

And you honestly think that vendors will tell you the source of their produce?

[SRAKA]

Originally Posted by weezycom

Some vendors will go to the produce warehouses up on Florida Ave NE and purchase wholesale to supplement their home-grown offerings.

Others grow primarily for the truck-farm market, so their produce needs to be uniform and picked earlier to meet the demands of that means of distribution, and they sell the overage on the farmers market circuit.

That's why it makes sense to go regularly and develop a knowledge of the different vendors so you can purchase from those who grow & sell their own.

What is the name of the place on Florida Ave? Thank you.

[weezycom]

It's not a single place. It's a warehouse district for produce wholesalers, and there are several different companies there. I've only been one time (you need a business ID number, EIN, to buy from them, and they only sell in bulk).

[mdcrim]

I finally found an actual farmer from the Charlottesville area who sells his fruits and veggies at a stand on the side of Belmont Ridge Road in Ashburn between the Greenway and Brambleton (in the parking lot of the auction place). He's there on Saturdays and Sundays from the morning (not sure the time) to 7pm. I am not normally a fan of the farm stands because they normally cost so much more than grocery stores. This guy is cheaper than most grocery stores and his fruits are spectacular (they are actually juicy and taste like fruit!).

[buildinginva]

I can't comment on question but just wanted to say that I am amused by your handle.

[NYmama2dallas]

There was some drama at the courthouse (arlington) farmers market over this, but I don't know the deets. Google is your friend.