Virginia Farm Bureau
Virginia Agricuture News
News Headlines
September 3, 2009
Fresh, local produce is plentiful even after Labor Day
VIRGINIA BEACH-Post-Labor Day produce is more plentiful than in the past.
"Consumer demand for fresh, local produce in the fall and winter months has increased, and so have the number of farmers' markets, giving farmers more outlets in which to sell produce during the fall months," said Tony Banks, assistant director of commodity/marketing for the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. "Additionally, producers are extending their growing seasons by using different varieties or growing produce in structures like hoop houses."
So even though summer is coming to an end, the supply of fresh, local Virginia produce is not.
The Virginia Beach Farmers' Market is a year-round public market where produce vendors sell their products from April through December, said Lisa Hatley, one of the market's three employees. In the fall, the merchandise switches from watermelons to apples, and from tomatoes to peppers and pumpkins, she said.
"In October our parking lot is a sea of orange."
Gourds and collard greens are two other popular fall offerings. "The majority of the phone calls I get in the fall are about collard greens," Hatley added.
At the Uptown Martinsville Farmers' Market-another year-round venue-farmers bring in produce until the end of November. In the fall, produce vendors sell sweet potatoes, greens, beets, squash and a wide assortment of apples, said market manager Lindsey Bryant. Right now garlic and blueberries are abundant, she said.
In 2005, Virginia had just 88 farmers' markets statewide. Today, the commenwealth has slightly more than 170.
Contact Hatley at 757-385-4395 or Bryant at 276-632-5688.