This Week at the Smart Markets Reston Farmers' Market

This Week at Our Reston Market
Wednesday 3–7 p.m.
12001 Sunrise Valley Dr.
Map

The weather forecast is not good, and I am going to offer vendors the choice to come. For our smallest farmers who are just beginning to pick from the fields, two days of rain will not provide them with much to bring, and selling only bedding plants may not cover the cost of coming to market on a rainy day. 

But we know Heritage Farm, Fossil Rock Farm, Angelic Beef, the Food Truck, and Tyson Farms will be with us, and most of our non-farm vendors, including the Gluten-Free Yum Truck, will be there for you even in the rain. If the forecast improves, you can count on everyone to show up, and we will post the no-shows on Facebook as soon as we know. We do know already that Fun Country Kettle Corn will not be with us no matter the weather. Dick is on vacation this week but will join us next week tanned and rested.  

Fossil Rock will bring lovely and really healthy-looking herb gardens for the deserving Mom in your family. Speak up if you're a Mom and if this is something you would like for Mother's Day. How else is anyone going to know that they can buy their gift at the farmers' market? Other vendors are working on their specials for the holiday — we will post those on Facebook too.

See you at the market!

From the Market Master

As the new markets begin opening each year, I get questions about what “local” means in a farmers’ market that carries roasted coffee beans, Kettle Korn and other foods not necessarily sourced locally. We do guarantee that our produce is grown locally, which in this area can include on farms located in Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania in addition to Virginia. In fact, many of our farmers from outside of Virginia are actually closer to our markets than our Virginia farmers, especially those from the Northern Neck of Virginia who drive two hours each way to get to our markets.

But the U.S. and Virginia Departments of Agriculture recognize another product designation. “Value-added” applies to vendors, many of whom are cooks or bakers, who start with one or more raw ingredients and produce a product by adding skill, talent, or specialized expertise in order to render something palatable or edible. This is the category under which we accept Kettle Korn poppers and coffee roasters as well as bakers and short-order cooks. Many of these vendors are personally committed to using local ingredients when they can, and they buy from their fellow vendors as often as possible. Smart Markets encourages this but does not require it.

A significant element of our mission is to support the small food entrepreneur, which we believe is a good way to ensure that locally prepared foods will continue to be available in our communities. These foods are almost always healthier than fast foods. We therefore want to see these small businesses succeed, and if that means their buying of some ingredients wholesale for a while, then we accept that as part of their cost of doing business. We’d have no salsa in winter otherwise.

Most vendors are happy to tell you where their ingredients come from, and many actually make a big deal of it in their signage and printed materials. And if you want to support those vendors who are more committed to local sourcing, that is your choice. That too is what markets are about — giving you choices based on what is most important to you, your family, and its budget. While our mantra has always been that “food is cheaper than medicine,” we all know that our food budgets are a daily concern with immediate consequences.

Remember to ask what you want to know at the farmers’ market. Someone will have the answer!