Locust Grove Farmers Market WHERE: Locust Grove Town Center on State Route 20 at State Route 611, VA WHAT: Fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, herbs and plants from producers within 100 miles of Orange WHEN: Wednesdays, 3-7 p.m., and Sundays 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. until the last Sunday before Christmas
Their Dogpatch Nursery was proving so popular with the folks who lived in Lake of the Woods and the surrounding countryside that their customers were jamming up the nursery's driveway with their cars or were parking unsafely at the side of Flat Run Road. "It was a disaster waiting to happen," he said. "So the Locust Grove Farmers Market was born."
As an aspiring market manager, Kendall called on his friend Andy Fraser for help pulling it all together. Fraser, owner of the Tasty Fixin's farm stand, agreed to mentor Kendall. And although he is the manager of the Spotsylvania Farmers Market, he found himself the co-manager of the new Locust Grove venture. It all works out, though, because the new farmers market is open on Wednesdays, so it won't compete with the farmers market in the town of Orange, and on Sundays, so it won't compete with the Spotsylvania County market, which is open on Saturdays. Lake of the Woods residents Chris and Doug Crain are at the market "nearly every week." They are great fans, but Doug thinks they need more vendors. "This market can be spread out to sell other things," he said last week, "if enough people come out and support it." Kendall agrees. "We have sellers of fruits and vegetables, natural beef and plants," he said. "But we really need a baker." The number of vendors ranges from six to 12 on Sundays, with fewer on Wednesdays. But it has been difficult to find a seller of baked goods because most area bakers are Amish or Mennonite and do not work on Sunday, he said. "We're looking for different people all the time," he said. "But we reserve the right to be picky, because we want the cream of the crop. Selling locally we can offer special varieties, things that can't be shipped 2,000 miles." No re-sellers are allowed at the Locust Grove market and "vendors have to produce their goods within 100 miles of here," Kendall said. "Everyone produces what they sell." Filiberto Ochoa definitely produces what he sells. A longtime employee at Laurel Grove Farms in Westmoreland County, Ochoa helped plant 30,000 watermelon vines plus countless other fruits and vegetables. Selling the produce, with the help of his wife Lorena and their two children, gives him the opportunity to talk produce. Locust Grove Realtor Joan Peck is one of his regular customers. "We need to support this," she said. "Markets are important for our community." "I love this market," Rhoadesville resident Carol Foshee said as she stopped on her way home from church on a recent Sunday. "I'm glad it's close to home. I keep buying here because I don't want them to go away." |
