This Week at the Smart Markets Lorton Farmers' Market

This Week at the Smart Markets Lorton Farmers’ Market
Thursday 3–7 p.m.
Workhouse Arts Center
9601 Ox Rd.
Lorton, VA 22079
Map

We lost a vendor this week. Benny Goodman of Kordent Farm has decided that he will not be able to continue throughout the season. The time on the road to get here from just outside Fredericksburg (32 miles, he says) is taking too much of a toll on him; it took him three hours to get home last week. We will miss him; he is a sustainable farmer, and we are working hard to bring more small farmers who are farming organically into our markets.

This is what our small farmers who farm for a living go through every day; spending time in the fields in the early morning hours or late into the evening and then spending hours on the road to bring the fruits and vegetables of their labor practically to your doorstep. Remembering this may put into perspective the commitment you make to come to a market and buy from these farmers.

I know it sometimes is a challenge for our busy suburban Moms and Dads to stop by the market every week, and we appreciate it very much. We know what it means to your family; can you even imagine what it means for the farmer? If you can, then you are a fellow traveler on a journey back to basics, back to a future of local sustainability, and back to knowing where your food comes from.

There will be more strawberries this week at Ignacio’s stand and more of those lovely herbs at Fossil Rock, and some veggies coming in with them, too. Chester Hess returns with his early vegetables and apples but will soon have his own berries from West Virginia. We thank Max Tyson for picking up the slack while we waited for Chester. Fat and Happy BBQ is developing a weekly following at this market. Talk to them about ordering ahead if you want to be certain that they will have that brisket or those ribs later in the market.

I know the breakfast pastries at Valley View are irresistible, but check out those breads, too. The baguettes are as close to the real Parisian bread as you will find in this area.

See you at the market!