This past weekend marked the begining of a temperature increase across NOVA and the DC metro area. It also represents the start of a new Farmers Market season. As a child my I used to go to a farmers Market in Atlanta and remember it being a large and busy market with dozens of vendors and hundreds of people. Sadley, today farmer markets in this area are quit small and limited in time and resources. While I do appreciate the fact that Prince William County (PWC) has five (soon to be six) farmers markets, we can do better.
I normally attend the Manassas Farmers Market every other Saturday as time permits but my normal shopping days are duing the week. Is it possible there are others with the will to buy local but having a hard time fitting it into their schedule. Maybe it is time that PWC lead NOVA into the food revoltution going around the world and start an in door year round market. We will get back to this idea in a minute.
In the District they have re-established Union Market. Union Market is a combination farmers market and artisan bizzare. They have butchers, produce providers, restaurants, organic goods, and a few other shops all under one roof. Union Market is open 5 days a week until 8pm. This is the type of location that can accomodate every schedule. While the Union Market does not rival its more established sister Eastern Market, it is more practical for a community who would like to shop local on a consistent basis.
Find out what's happening in Manassas Parkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
And now we are back. Why not have one central location that PWC residents can count on a few days a week to provide an alternate to big box stores. The basis for this post is to see if there is interest in this idea. Would PWC residents be interested in a Union Market concept. Not only would it provide services to PWC residents, it could help revitalize a location, provide jobs, tax revenue, provide an incubator for small business, but more importantly support our local farms and artisans.
