Chamber News

Stuart Farm Market Celebrates National Farmers Market Week

United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has proclaimed August 1-7, 2010 as National Farmers Market Week. In celebration, Stuart Farmers Market' will have several vendors on hand offering fresh local produce, meats, baked goods and crafts.

Stuart Farmers' Market CELEBRATES NATIONAL FARMERS MARKET WEEK United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has proclaimed August 1-7, 2010 as National Farmers Market Week. In celebration, Stuart Farmers Market' will have several vendors on hand offering fresh local produce, meats, baked goods and crafts. Customers can stroll shop while listening to music provided by Mary Jo and Charlie Leet and the FARM TEAM. VA extension service and Patrick County Partnership for the Arts will also be on hand to help celebrate the week. This year marks the 11th annual National Farmers Market Week. Since the USDA began declaring National Farmers Market Week in 2000, the number of farmers markets has almost doubled, from 2,863 markets in 2000 to 5,274 in 2009. According to the USDA, Stuart Farmers' Market is one of the approximately 6,000 in the country operating in 2010, of the 190 in Virginia. The Stuart Farmers Market began in 2004, and currently has Eight farmers selling a wide variety of products, including heirloom tomatoes, melons, peaches, apples, squash, cucumbers and grassfed meats. In the most current growing season, a few vendors accept the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program. "Farmers markets are good for you for health, good for your community, and good for the economy" says Stacy Miller, Executive Director of the Farmers Market Coalition, a nonprofit supporting farmers markets across the country. "During Farmers Market Week, we invite everyone to celebrate the freshest foods from America’s most entrepreneurial farmers by supporting their local farmers markets." Come out and enjoy the morning of celebration with music and fresh produce at the Stuart Farmers' Market, operating Friday August 6th from 8 a.m. to noon. If you can't make it to Stuart on Friday, celebrate the week at the Ararat Farmers' Market on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.