Salsa Las Glorias Draws a Crowd

A vendor at 13 out of the 16 markets in Northern Virginia, Lilia “Lilly” Castano and her family are very busy providing salsa to as many customers as possible. Salsa Las Glorias is conveniently available at both Annandale and Wakefield Farmers Markets. The Castanos offer six different kinds of salsa, all made with fresh, local ingredients.

“Everything that I bring to the market is fresh. I always make my salsa the day before each market, and all of my ingredients are locally grown. Not only do my customers support me, but they support local farms as well,” said Lilly Castano.

When she first arrived in the United States, Lilly Castano made a living as a housekeeper, but after being laid off, she needed a way to support her family. Her mother Gloria encouraged her to leave the housekeeping industry. Soon Salsa Las Glorias, named after Lilly’s mother, was created.

“At first I was embarrassed because I had lost my job, but I love the market and I love the people. I wouldn’t miss the market for the world. Although my family helps me with some markets, I go to as many markets as I can,” said Lilly Castano, who generally makes it out to the Wakefield Market.

Fernando Castano, Lilly’s son, sells salsa at the Annandale Farmers Market for his mother. “I love the atmosphere at the market,” Fernando Castano said. “All of the vendors are almost like a family, because we all see each other at different markets. It’s also great meeting all of the customers."

All of Castano’s salsas are made without additives. “I don’t add any water, garlic, or vinegar. I just use fresh tomato, onions, cilantro, and jalapeño or habanero peppers,” Lilly Castano said.

While they do make some hot salsas, their priority is flavor. “Our salsas aren’t meant to burn your mouth,” Fernando Castano said. “First and foremost, we want to give customers a good flavor with fresh, local produce. That’s our mission: good flavor, with fresh and local ingredients.”

Regular customers to the Salsa Las Glorias booth are big fans of the variety of flavors offered. “The tomatillo is my favorite. It’s delicious. This is the best salsa in the market,” said Bob Diegelman.

Laura Smith, a regular at Wakefield, said she stops by every Wednesday for the mild salsa and customer Kathryn Watson enjoys the pico de gallo. “The pico de gallo is good on everything. I put it on chicken and fish, and it’s also amazing mixed with green beans,” said Watson.

Not only has Salsa Las Glorias caught the attention of customers, it has also caught the attention of a certain celebrity chef. “Emeril Lagasse did a Farmers Market spotlight at the Whole Foods in Fair Lakes and he tried my mom’s salsa. He loved it, it even made him say, ‘BAM!’” Fernando Castano said.

While Salsa Las Glorias does primarily make salsa, they also offer homemade chips. The salsa is good in the fridge for up to two weeks – not that it will last that long.

To learn more, visit Salsa Las Glorias website, find them on Facebook, or stop by their booth at Annandale or Wakefield Farmers Markets.