Summertime at the Reston Farmers Market

          When we started the Reston Farmers Market at Lake Anne over 15 years ago, neither Debbie Sphrenz (who had the original idea for a farmers market) nor I realized how big, diverse, and popular it would become.  In fact, in its recent “Best of Virginia 2013” edition, Virginia Living Magazine named the Reston Farmers Market the best in all of Northern Virginia.     

            The Market opened this year on May 4 and is now heading into prime time when there is an explosion of summertime vegetables, fruits, meats and more. 

            While strawberry season is drawing to a close, we are about to enter the cornucopeia of summer.  Although the rainy and cool spring delayed just about everything, the next couple of weeks are likely to bring the sweet tastes of blucberries, blackberries, and cherries.  You’ll be able to find these as well as peaches and plums in abundance at the Reston Farmers Markets’ four orchard farm stands and the Mt. Olympus berry stand which also will feature its dizzying and colorful array of peppers in the early weeks of July. Imagine twenty or more varieties of peppers, everything from sweet banana peppers to the pavement-melting scotch bonnets, with jalapenos in between.

            But, the Reston Market offers much more.  How about our four bakers—with cookies and sweet pastries to cakes and pies as varied as the fruits and berries that fill the market, as well as 20 or more kinds of breads homemade and fresh from the oven.  Homemade is one of the watchwords of markets sponsored by the Fairfax County Park Authority such as the Reston Farmers Market.  FCPA sponsors and oversees 11 farmers markets, all of which are “producers markets”.  To be eligible to have a stand in any FCPA market, one must grow or cook or produce the food product, and do so within 125 miles of here.  That is how we assure what you buy at the Reston Farmers Market is fresh and is locally produced.

            But, I digress.  When we began the Market, county rules basically allowed ONLY fruits, vegetables, plants, and certain baked goods.  Gradually, new products have been welcomed, reflecting farmer production and customer demand.  Dairy products, then meats, and most recently, seafood have become eligible.  The Reston Market has all of these—our 2013 addition being Arnest Seafood which came to our attention thanks to a long-time Market neighbor of the fisherman. By the way, “local” for seafood is defined as coming from the Chesapeake Bay or its tributaries—and Reston is the ONLY market so far to have seafood.  To date, the catch available includes soft and hard-shell crabs, oysters (complete with shucking demonstration!), clams, flounder, catfish, speckled trout, and more.  Dairy products available year-round include prize-winning goat cheese, cow cheeses, fresh milk and ice cream to die for!

            If you want protein, you’ve come to the right place.  You’ll find grass-fed beef, pork, lamb and poultry.  You’ll also find a nice variety of bison meats from a farm Fran and I visited on a recruiting sojourn three years ago.  And, what a find!  In addition, come and check out the bacons, hams, and sausages ready for breakfast or any time for that matter.

            Imagine, I haven’t yet mentioned the heart of the healthy Reston Farmers Markets, our amazing produce vendors—all nine of them, if you include a pickled veggies vendor and our salads and salsas stand!  The other seven vegetable producers now include, for the first time ever, a remarkable USDA-certified organic farm located on the border with Shenandoah National Park.  Three of the veggie vendors have been with this Market since our opening day in 1998.  In the coming weeks, you will be able to reach into the veggie cornucopeia every Saturday as summer cabbages, sweet corn, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, more green beans, cucumbers, potatoes and big-time tomatoes arrive.  When I say tomatoes, I mean a choice of tomatoes to stagger your imagination—30 to 40 varieties.  Also, the sweet, delicious cantaloupes and several varieties of melons will carry us through the summer.

            As you depart the Market, contemplating the delicious week’s eating in front of you, be sure to pick up flowers for the table and select something for your garden from northern Virginia’s best plant and flower vendor.

            It’s all at your Reston Farmers Market.  Co-market Master Fran and I will see you there!