Farmers Markets for the Future
Old Town Farmers Market
“Our farm is in Virginia and we’ve been coming to the Old Town Farmers Market for twenty years. People like local because it’s better, fresh stuff. Everything we grow is local. I started when I was eighteen, and we had three tables. My family grew up here—people remember when my daughters were little and played under the table.”
After Leonel shared his story with me, I bought some French radishes and limes from him and he handed me a beautiful, large red tomato. I told him he didn’t need to give it to me for free, but he insisted and said it was “for the conversation.
I reached out to Leonel and several other vendors to highlight these incredible farmers and makers who are passionate about serving Alexandria, Virginia and other neighboring communities. With several other options in Alexandria, including farmer markets in Old Town, West End, Del Ray, Old Town North, and Four Mile Run, I must admit that I’m spoiled for options when it comes to accessing locally grown food.
But sourcing food locally should be a cultural shift everywhere, and I wanted to highlight the amazing things our farmers do for us during National Farmers Market Week (August 7 - 13). These bright spots in our communities strengthen our local food systems and our economies. They improve our health and they connect us to each other. These are spaces built for people, where we can have a conversation and form meaningful relationships with those who grow our food or make our soaps or other goods. There’s art, there’s culture, and plenty to learn!
But other than that feel good atmosphere and the satisfaction of knowing your purchase directly helped someone in your community, why shop at your local farmers market?
“You rely on that support from your community. You know where your stuff is coming from and there’s less packaging and handling. When you buy local, you are supporting your community.”
“It’s a good idea to support local in general. People don’t realize that eating locally helps improve nutrition and health, like reducing allergies. Local farms decrease the carbon footprint—we pick this fresh on our farm. You know where it comes from. Our farm is a family business. We were at four locations on Saturday and three on Sunday, plus two markets during the week. It’s mostly family. When they say it takes a village, it takes a village.”
“My parents were marines, and we traveled all over, but we came back here to Virginia when I was eight and I’ve been here ever since. I’m sixty now. You’ve got to support Mom and Pops.”
The people selling us food at farmers markets live in that area. That means they care about us and our community from the environment to the economy. In fact, farmers markets provide a wealth of benefits to our local economy:
Growers selling locally create 13 full-time farm operator jobs in their communities per $1 million in revenue earned.*
Total annual sales at U.S. farmers markets are estimated at $1 billion, all of which flows directly back into our local communities.*
Farmers at local markets make 90 cents on every dollar compared to the 17.4 cents on every dollar that commercial farmers in grocery chains make.*
Produce at farmers markets is often cheaper now than the inflated prices at grocery chains.
*Statistics from the Farmers Market Coalition.
Local businesses are more collaborative and willing to invest money in other local businesses, which means our money is re-circulated in our communities. This makes us more resilient when disasters strike abroad. We’re not subject to falls in the global supply chain, which has proven to be weak during the COVID-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine.
Farmers markets also serve the needs of our communities better, often providing food assistance and sustainability measures.
Over $100 million in federal nutrition benefits were redeemed at farmers markets in 2021.*
572,769 SNAP households made at least one purchase at a farmers market in 2021.*
Double-up points where families in need get a dollar for every dollar they spend locally are popular at farmers markets, like the Old Town Farmers Market in Alexandria.
Many farmers markets participate in composting or food donation programs to reduce waste and provide for the community. This is true at every farmers market in Alexandria.
*Statistics from the Farmers Market Coalition.
But beyond basic needs, some farmers and vendors see products missing from the community when there is a demand for them. And they come in to help and fill that need, even for specific customers!
“Pennsylvania is thick with dairy farmers, so our products are everywhere. In the Washington, D.C. area, there are no dairy farmers for an hour radius, so it’s all about supply and demand. We’re lucky that our children help with the farm, so we can come to the farmers market. Dairy farming is a lot of work, which is why you don’t see a lot of us at markets like this. If it weren’t for our children, we wouldn’t be here.”
“Shirley comes in at the opening of every farmers market day and asks for a specific flour blend that we make sure to have on hand. She’s the longest standing customer I know—same day, same time. She’s so fun.”
“I have a couple returning customers. There’s a guy who comes in every week for his everything bagel cashews. He’s lively and fun to talk to.”
“I am from Alexandria, Virginia. I came to the West End Farmers Market as a customer long before I started Walking Paws Boutique. My business was inspired after I got my first dog and Abuela started sewing these treat bags for him. People started asking to buy them, and we thought, ‘Why not start selling?’”
“I like when people bring their dogs. My favorite is when the dog comes and picks out their toy. I think it’s important to support small businesses because they live in and care about the community and put money back into it.”
“I started PS+ Infused Treats because my friend had breast cancer and I have sickle cell anemia. The doctors tried to prescribe us opioids, but we wanted alternative ways to manage the pain, so we found cannabis. The West End Market organizers are excellent people, and when they asked us to be here, it was better than the other markets. We’ll be here as long as it’s here. I like that it’s so diverse. There’s nobody here in competition with each other.”
Farmers market vendors also support other local businesses at the market, encouraging each other’s success and strengthening the overall local business community.
“At the Old Town Farmers Market, we have one guy who comes every week and he’s really enthusiastic about our hot sauces. We bring back old flavors and introduce new ones every week. We love supporting local businesses, too. Felix & Oscar is a local business that just ordered a bunch of sauces from us, so we brought them a bunch of packs. We collaborated with Passionately Pets here at the West End Farmers Market on Pawsome Sauce and the proceeds went to a local nonprofit called Project Second Chance. I also love Rolling Sloane’s Bakery when we’re here at West End—her baked goods are addictive.”
“The Old Town Farmers Market is very well attended. It has regular local customers who come every Saturday and tourists from the hotels. I’ve been here for six years. I often buy cheese down the way at Blue Ridge Dairy and meat and eggs from Jim at the Lamb’s Quarter. And there’s a jewelry lady down that way I buy from sometimes.”
Because they care about the people they serve and don’t want to contribute to pollution, local farmers and vendors do more in the way of sustainability. This means supporting our local farmers markets is one of the most effective ways to lessen our impact on the climate and to take action in a way that feels good and has immediate environmental benefits.
Cady at CMS Supply Co.
“I’m actually a native Virginian. I grew up in Fairfax, and I love Virginia. It’s not just that I’ve always lived here and want to stay. Virginia has a mix of everything from the water to the mountains. My business is not perfect about low waste, but I’m conscious of it. I live 10 minutes away from the market. I accept candle jars back and give a discount. I’ve seen some of the same customers regularly for the last three years. Liz was one of my first customers and we text all the time. Living locally is about these relationships you build.”
More than 85% of farmers market vendors just like Cady travel less than 50 miles to sell at farmers markets. The Urban Harvest Farmers Market in Houston, Texas, takes it to the next level, with its vendors needing to be within 100 miles and everything they grow and source also needing to come within those limits—meaning the grains in the bread or pasta are also grown in that radius. With most products at farmers markets grown locally, most offer more diversity based on what thrives in our local environment. This increases soil health and makes for more nutritious food and a strong and healthy environment.
So, what are you waiting for? Go and take a picture with your favorite farmer or vendor and share that photo with us! It’s time to live local and eat local.
