BOTETOURT – There will be more places to buy locally grown vegetables and flowers, fresh eggs, homemade jellies and breads and crafts this spring and summer when four area farmers markets are open.
Botetourt Farmers Market at Ikenberry Orchards in Daleville has its official opening this Saturday, May 8. It’s under the auspices of Botetourt Family Farms, a cooperative association of independent, small, family farms in the county, in cooperation with the orchard.
Troutville Farmers Market in the Park opens this Saturday, May 8 at Troutville Town Park. It is sponsored by Friends of the Park.
Buchanan Farmers Market will open by the end of the month and will be on Main Street, and the new Catawba Valley Farmers Market will open Thursday, May 27 just west of the Botetourt County line at Catawba Valley General Store across from The Homeplace Restaurant.
Botetourt Farmers Market
Botetourt Farmers Market is on US 220 and is in its third season.
The market is held every Saturday from 8 a.m. until sellout on the grounds of Ikenberry on US 220 just north of Daleville. As the growing season progresses, visitors can expect more fresh, local produce. There also will be free-range eggs, herbs, coffee roasted on site, freshly milled whole grain baked goods, mixes and stone ground flours, as well as pork and lamb. Market members also offer wine, crafts, soap, grass-fed beef and free-range poultry.
Many of the vendors are expanding their offerings and are also participating in the ‘Buy Fresh Buy Local’ campaign for Virginia. If you are interested in being a vendor, stop by and find out how easy it is.
Botetourt Family Farms also holds special events and classes.
For more information, visit http://botetourtfamilyfarms.org.
Troutville Opens Saturday
The Troutville Farmers Market will be open from 7 a.m.-12 noon on Saturdays through Labor Day weekend.
Local and area farmers, crafters and value-added producers will be setting up shop at Shelter B in the Town Park. The vendor fee is $5. Organizers welcome local vegetable and flower producers, farmers, crafters (homemade only), folks who make their own homemade jellies, jams, breads and baked goods, etc. No yard sale items or items bought to be resold are allowed.
Those who sell homemade food products are reminded that labels must include the ingredients and a note that the foods are not state inspected.
The Troutville Farmers Market will featured a farmer each week calling it a “Farmers Special.” The first weekend will feature flowers since it Mother’s Day Weekend. The Sunshine Girls from Friends of the Park also will be there in their straw hats.
For more information about the Troutville Farmers Market, call Kathy McGhee at 915-3108.
Catawba Valley Meeting Monday
Producers interested in the Catawba Valley Farmers Market are invited to a meeting Monday, May 10 at 7 p.m. at Catawba Community Center.
The Catawba Valley market will open on Thursdays from 3:30-7 p.m.
Christy Gabbard, the director VT EarthWorks, a business-acceleration program for agricultural-based businesses, said VT EarthWorks has agreed to furnish tables and tents for the vendors.
The market is sponsored by VT EarthWorks and the Catawba Valley General Store.
At a meeting in April, potential vendors said they anticipate selling a variety of vegetables as they become available, as well as herbs, jams, pickles, baked goods, fresh and smoked trout, berries, raw honey, lamb and goat meat, melons, strawberries, pork, locally roasted coffee and vegetable and flower plants. Handmade, high-quality, locally produced crafts will also be offered for sale.
The market is looking for more producers of meats, cheese, eggs, baked goods, vegetables and fruits. Anyone interested in being a part of the Catawba Farmers Market is urged to contact Gabbard at 540-558-8010 or by e-mail at cgunnels@vt.edu.
Buchanan Farmers Market
Buchanan Farmers Market is finalizing its plans for the season. For more information, contact Town Revitalization Manager Harry Gleason at 254-1212.