Fresh From the Farm
By Julie Reardon
If every household in Virginia spent just ten dollars a week on locally grown agricultural products, it would bring $1.65 billion to the local economy in a year. Why not start this week by purchasing fresh produce from a farmer’s market or any of a number of nearby farms? Besides eating delicious, healthy foods, you can feel good about helping create jobs in Virginia, encouraging our local economy to grow, and keep family farms working and sustainable.
Virginia Buy Fresh, Buy Local utilizes a network of organizations and agencies to support the education and development of consumers, farmers, and food buyers. The Virginia Grown program is a marketing tool promoting fresh, local products to consumers and has a proven track record for increasing visibility, developing additional media attention and enhancing marketing opportunities for Virginia Grown products.
Virginia is for food lovers. Buying local foods helps create jobs, supports existing ones, and it’s good for you. Local goods don’t sit in storage, nor do they have to be trucked, flown or transported great distances, so they’re far more flavorful and retain more of their beneficial nutrients. Most people don’t include enough fresh fruits and vegetables in their diets, a major contributing cause to the national epidemic of obesity and diabetes as well as a host of other diseases. What better way for both children and adults to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables than buying garden-fresh, flavorful local and organic produce?
The Washington D.C. area has plenty of suburban sprawl, but it also has more local and family farms within close proximity than many major metro areas, including a good number within a half hour drive from the Beltway. Buying locally helps support endangered family and small farms and has the added benefit of preserving scenic open spaces. In turn, preservation of farmland helps keep taxes lower since agricultural land uses very little in county services.
Look for the “Virginia Grown” logo wherever you shop. The Virginia Grown program’s logo and labels help you identify locally grown products in the marketplace. There’s also a user-friendly website to help you identify products and produce, including what’s in season and when on their website, www.vagrown.vdacs.virginia.gov. There, you can also learn more about farm stands, pick-your-own, farm to table, and community supported agriculture farms, buyers’ clubs and cooperatives.
A Group Effort
Community supported farming isn’t a new concept, but it’s a relatively recent arrival to this area. CSA farms offer opportunities to join with other consumers and make a financial commitment to a farm in exchange for regular, weekly produce baskets during the season. “CSA farming actually started in Japan about 40 years ago,” explained Jay Everett, who’s run two in New England and one in Fauquier County here in the Commonwealth. He said ideally all the CSA members develop a budget before the growing season, agree on what to grow and split costs and labor between members. For some, explained Everett, the emotional connection to the food grown is important. “People like to come out with their kids and be involved in the planting and the picking; they want to get their hands in the dirt,” he said. “And for about $20 a week, they get a basket of produce; whatever’s in season, plus eggs and meat from pastured chickens. Once you taste the difference you get hooked.”
But not all CSAs require labor. “I’m pretty much a one-man show,” said Matt Eustace, referring to the planting, tending and harvesting he does for the CSA at Willowlyn Farm in Catlett. He starts from seed in his greenhouses, but admits he gets busy during the growing season, now until fall, and hires seasonal labor. “Probably between 50 and 75 percent of my sales are from CSAs, but I also sell direct at farm stands and when I have surplus, which is most of the time.” He welcomes non-CSA members to his farm during the growing season too, as well as people interested in joining a CSA, and sells much of his excess produce at the Lee Highway Nursery nearby as well as at the Southern Fauquier Farmers Market. And his best sellers? “Tomatoes, all kinds, sweet corn, cucumbers, lettuces and greens, radishes and beets, carrots, melons and squash. I don’t do okra, but I do grow some eggplant.” Willowlyin is located in Catlett, just south of Manassas.
Shop Smart at Farmers Markets & Retailers in the Blue Ridge
Some suggest arriving early for the best selection; while bargain hunters might score good deals by waiting until just before closing; although arriving late you risk missing the good stuff. Bring cash for the farmers markets, not all vendors take checks or credit cards although most of the retailers will. Don’t forget a cooler with ice, especially if you aren’t going straight home. Bring your own sturdy bags to cut down on waste and use of plastic bags. Get to know the growers—ask questions about their food, storage tips and favorite recipes.
A word about organic—most small farmers use organic practices and you won’t find any synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge or genetically modified organisms used. Meat and eggs are free of antibiotics and growth hormones. To be certified organic involves a rigorous inspection process; while most farmers use organic practices, not all are certified organic—ask the farmer for details. Eustace says most of the nutrients are lost during processing and packing, so buying local is the single best thing you can do to improve the quality of what you eat. “Commercially grown lettuce is given six chlorine washes,” he explains. “Unless it’s treated, it starts to decompose as soon as it’s picked.”
Where to Shop
Willowlyn Farms Produce LLC
9781 Willowlyn Lane
Catlett
540-436-7954
Willowlynfarm.com
Seasonal produce including fruit, vegetables, berries and sour cherries. Willowlyn sells onsite by appointment and also at the Lee Highway Nursery.
The Farm at Sunnyside
Washington
540-675-9946
Thefarmatsunnyside.com
Seasonal vegetables, apples, pears, cherries, peaches, blackberries, sells through CSA, supplies restaurants and sells at DuPont Circle & Crystal City farmers markets
Moving Meadows Farm
Lloyds Lane
Culpeper
540-825-9113
movingmeadowsfarm.com
Bread, rolls, cookies and sweets from flour milled onsite daily, natural meats including beef & poultry.
Whisper Hills Farm
7215 Robinson River Road
Rapidan
480-540-9047
whisperhillfarm.com
Whisper Hills sells seasonal plants, produce, herbs and cut lowers.
Virginia Green Grocer CSA
9317 Green Meadow Road
Warrenton
571-359-7915
virginiagreengrocer.com
Sells seasonal certified organic produce and natural beef, eggs and herbs through CSA and to restaurants and retailers.
Archwood Green Barns
Intersection of Rts. 245 & I-66
The Plains
540-253-5289
Farmers market open Sundays 10 am-3 pm May thru mid-November.
Culpeper Downtown Farmers Market
East Davis Street parking lot
Culpeper
540-825-4416
culpeperdowntown.com
Open through Nov. 12th on Saturdays 7:30 am-12 pm.
Natural Markeplace
5 Diagonal Street
Warrenton
TheNaturalMarketplace.com
Specialty market selling natural and certified organic foods, herbs, cosmetics, etc., www.
Rappahannock CFC Farmers Market
12645 Lee Highway
Washington
540-987-8555
cfcfarmhome.net
Market is open Fridays 12 – 5:30 pm, Saturdays 7:30 am – 3 pm.
Red Truck Farm Store & Bakery
22 Waterloo Street
Warrenton
540-364-7339
redtruckbakery.com
Local items and bakery using local ingredients.