Residents of Virginia's Roanoke Valley mirror national trends of buying and eating more locally grown fruits, vegetables, honey, eggs and dairy products, and meat. Visiting and supporting local farmers' markets and farm stores become weekly and community highlights for those who support eating locally in Virginia.
Locavores - Eating Locally
Locavores, according to editor Jennifer Maiser of the Eat Local Challenge website, are people who pay attention to where their food comes from and commit to eating local food as much as possible. "Determine what local means for you," writes Maiser on the Blue Ridge Public Broadcasting System website highlighting the NOW program "Growing Local, Eating Local." aired the week of November 2, 2007. "This is an individual decision," continues Maiser, "that should feel comfortable for you and your family. Many locavores start by trying to eat within a 100-mile radius from their homes and then adjust."
The first of Maiser's ten steps to becoming a locavore is to visit and buy at a farmers' market. Farmers' markets keep small farms in business through direct sales, she says. The farmer takes home nearly all of the money handed to him for his merchandise rather than having a portion of the cost going to a middleman. Any small step helps the environment, protects your family's health, and supports area small farmers.
Virginia's Roanoke Valley Community and Farmers' Markets
Each year the numbers of small community and farmers' markets increase within a hundred mile radius of Roanoke City. Here are three established and well–known places where people can buy local produce, meat, baked goods, arts and crafts:
The Salem Farmers' Market
This 18-year-old market is located in Salem's downtown district on the corner of Main Street and Broad Street. It is open April 1 through December 31 (closed Christmas Day), Monday through Saturday from 7:30 am until 2 pm, and there is plenty of free on–site parking. The City of Salem constructed the Salem Market in 1992.
Salem Farmers' Market vendors bring the best of the country to this small city. Peak months for Salem customers are June, July and August, and the best days are usually Fridays and Saturdays. Saturdays resemble a friendly neighborhood get–together with happy dogs, children sampling goods, and gossiping adults (Photo #2). Fresh produce, home-baked goodies, fresh cut flowers, honey, eggs, jams and jellies, and garden ornamentals are among items for sale. In recent years, the market has attracted more vendors of organic produce.
Jamison Orchard Farm Store
A family farm and orchard since 1875, family members work this operation ((Photo #3). It is a gem hidden away on Grandin Road Extension, in the shelter of gently rolling hills studded with apple trees. the farm store is open year around and hours are 9 am to 6 pm Monday to Thursday; 9 am to 7 pm Friday; 9 am to 4 pm Saturday; and closed on Sundays.
Jamison family members grow most of the fruits and vegetables sold on their farmlands. There are apples, peaches, nectarines and seasonal vegetables from which customers may select. Jamison's also offers old fashioned hard candy, apple butter, peach butter, mountain honey, Amish country cheeses, and baked goods. Custom–made fruit and gift baskets are a specialty.
Also called the Farmer's Market, this downtown location is the oldest continuously operating open-air market in the Commonwealth of Virginia (Photo #4). Vendors received the first licenses in 1882. The market is located at the intersection of Campbell Avenue and Market Street. There is some on–street parking and a municipal garage on Campbell Street less than a block from the market. Parking in the garage is free on Saturdays.
The market is open from 8 am through 5 pm Monday through Saturday and 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday. Many vendors use Sunday, Monday and Tuesday for planting, picking, and preparing items for sale. In the summer growing season, many vendors arrive at the market around 7 am and leave around 3 pm.
There are 42 permanent vendor tables along the west and south sides of Market Street. Additional spaces in Market Square allow vendors who need more room to set up canopies, tables and demonstrations.
Most of the Roanoke Farmers' Market vendors are farmers and ornamental plants growers (Photo #5). However, vendors of fresh meats, poultry and baked goods also regularly set up in booth space. They have been joined in recent years by artisans who offer handcrafted items like jewelry, pottery (Photo #1), metal sculpture, soap, clothing and photography.
Georgene A. Bramlage - Suite 101 Landscaping Feature Writer and Topic Editor Free-lance Garden and Landscape Writer and Consultant
Join the Conversation