July 4th Farmers' Market

 

The first Saturday of the month happened to coincide with July 4th this year, which made for a great sample opportunity!  We had a georgous start to the 4th, with beautiful weather that wasn't too hot or humid.  We had 12 vendors in attendance on Saturday with some new vendors with us.  We had the regular pork and beef, as well as the regular vegetable vendors, but there was also a new fruit vendor, John Weakley, who was there selling peaches, and then a vendor with lamb, and Brightwood Farms who had the only raspberries there.  There still was no sweet corn and tomatoes, but hopefully they should be showing up soon.  However there was a good assortment of squash, berries, and a few greens to choose from. 

The sample event also went very well, as we had shortbread from 5Riders, cherries from Lacy's Farm, blueberries from Yowell Farm, blackberries from Richard Systek, and raspberries from Brightwood Farm and Radiant Springs farm.  We also had a choice of vanilla and vanilla with fudge swirl ice cream, and then three different sauces: blueberry, raspberry, and blackberry that were made by Radiant Springs Farm.  Everone seemed to have a great time and really enjoy the samples, as there was a line that was pretty much continous for three hours that morning.  

We also gave out a Farmers' Market Shopping List for people to take home that had a "What do I need at the market?" shopping list in it, as well as a produce availablity chart, a listing of all the special events for the Farmers' Market this year, and information about the Farm2Table Madison dinner. 

 

 

 

 

June 20th Farmers' Market

We started out this Saturday morning with gray skies and we thought that the rain was going to hold off until we could leave the market, but that was not to be.  We had a few sprinkles on and off all morning until we had a thunderstorm come through that tried to run us all off. There were nine vendors that showed up on Saturday morning to brave the gray skies and try to wait out the rain.  There was a very high variety of products available on Saturday, and some of the more traditional products that are thought of as the traditional summertime products.  We had some cucumbers, squash, lettuce, radishes, onions, and kohl rabi.  We also had some delicious baked goods by the Riders and Mary Ruth Kipps.  Mrs. Kipps even had some special Fathers' Day Cakes for sale.  There were all the normal great products from Backfield Farms and Papa Weaver's Pork, with a high demand for Papa Weaver's chorrizo.  Hopefully with all this rain the crops will continue to be very high producing and it will be no time before we have sweet corn and tomatoes for everyone to enjoy!

 

 

 

 

June 6th Farmers' Market

 

After yet another week of rainy days, the sun finally decided to come out again for Saturday morning.  It was a beautiful day for the first Saturday of the month event and we had plenty of people out enjoying the sun and the free samples and demonstrations.  We had all the nine vegetable vendors contribute to our salad, and it had plenty of everything.  We had beautiful fresh greens with carrots, onions, cucumbers, kohlrabi, broccoli, cauliflower, and radishes.  We also had three great vinaigrettes that went on the salad for everyone to choose from- a strawberry vinaigrette, a maple syrup vinaigrette, and a sorghum vinaigrette that were all made from products that were grown in Madison County, and maple syrup that was grown in Highland County.  The strawberry was by far the most popular of the dressings, with the maple syrup coming in a close second.  Everyone who tried the sorghum said that it was very interesting and not what they were expecting- in a good way.  The Master Gardners were also set up giving a demonstrating of worm composting and how to get the best soil from the use of worms.  For those that were not brave enough to get in and play with the worms, they also had very tasty gummi worms that they were handing out. There was also a display set up of what kinds of goods can be preserved through canning, and a sign up was out for those that were interested in being part of a canning class.  There was also a booth set up with free Farmers' Market ink pens and magnets, as well as the sign up for the raffle for the two free tickets to the Farm2Table dinner. 

 

Come enjoy all our fresh produce and products at the Farmers' Market this upcoming week! 

 

 

 

 

 

May 30th Farmers' Market:

 

After a week of rainy days, the rain stopped for Saturday morning's farmers' market.  It was a bright and sunny morning, and a perfect time to get out and enjoy the sunshine and the Farmers' Market.  There were nine vendors in attendance on Saturday morning with a variety of different goods.  The Hutchesons had baby carrots in a variety of different colors, and there were plenty of fresh lettuces to be found throughout the market.  There were also beets and new potatoes to be found as well as some asparagus and radishes.  Mary Ruth Kipps even had a fresh strawberry pie that looked incredible along with her normal baked goods. Backfield Farms handed out samples of their London Broil which was absolutely delicous.  We had many people also stop in and register for their free tickets to the Farm2Table dinner that will be held on August 12th.  

Everyone should be at the market this weekend for our second big event of the summer!  The theme for this month is "Buy Fresh Buy Greens Day" at the market.  We will be having a big salad with contributions from the vendors, as well as three different vinagrettes that will be prepared by the Master Gardners.  There will also be a food preservation workshop presented by Jill Garth and a Worm Casting demonstration by the Master Gardners.  Hope to see you there! 

 

 

 

May 23rd Farmers' Market:

 

We had a georgous day for last Saturday's Farmers' Market at Hoover's Ridge Park.  There was a great breeze in the air and it was a great time to get out and enjoy the fresh air as well as enjoy some locally grown foods and produce.  We had eight vendors in attendance on Saturday, with everything from Strawberries and asparagus to fresh breads and flowers.  We had many other fresh vegetables available for purchase from our vendors.  We also had a great selection of locally grown meats from Backfield Farm and Papa Weaver's Pork.  We also had the station set up for the raffle for a free pair of tickets to the Farm2Table Madison Grown dinner that will be held on August 12th.  Everyone who attends the Farmers' Market can sign up every week for the raffle, so remember to sign up when you come!

Come see us this weekend, May 30th from 8-12 at the Farmers Market to get your locally grown, fresh produce, breads, and meat!

 

 Farmers' Market Opening Day

Posted May 5, 2009 

The Grand Opening of the Madison County Farmers' Market was held last Saturday, May 2, 2009 at the Madison Fairgrounds, which serves as our rainy day location.  Hopefully next week (if the weather cooperates), we will be back at our regular market location at Hoover Ridge Park.  Over 500 customers braved the threat of rain to support our local farmers and enjoyed samples of Papa Weaver pork sausage with pancakes and Highland County maple syrup.  Everyone was welcomed to the market with the aroma of pork sausage samples, complimentary shopping bag and a free raffle ticket for the "Madison Grown" dinner at the Madison Inn on August 12, 2009.  Eight farm vendors featured a variety of early produce that included mixed greens, spinach, herbs, asparagus, bedding plants, green onions, and 3 cucumbers.  Coolers full of locally grown pork and beef were avaiable from Backfield Farm and Papa Weaver's pork and the smell of fresh baked bread filled the air from Mary Ruth Kipps, Kristen Rider and Radiant Springs Farm.  Other products available included a variety of locally made soaps, suet cakes for your bird feeders, mint tea bags, crafting wool and a variety of eggs (large and small).  In addition, the Madison Master Gardeners and the Culpeper Soil and Water District conducted a rain barrel workshop and 20 rain barrels were constructed to water local gardens.  Two rain barrels were donated to the Madison Farm2Table community garden project at Mayo Yowell's farm.

 

To help promote the Farmers' Market, the Madison Eagle and NBC 29 were on hand to take pictures and interview local farmers and consumers about locally grown food.  NBC 29 broadcast a special feature on the market that evening on the 6 o'clock news and we look forward to reading Don Richeson's report in the Madison Eagle this week. This is the NBC 29 web report on opening day.

 

Madison Farmers Market Kicks Off

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What's Happening At the Market!

Posted March 28, 2009

Local farmers are preparing the ground for spring planting in preparations for the 2009 growing season.  Garden fresh vegetables and locally produced meats will be available from May to December at the Madison County Farmers Market opening May 2, 2009 at Hoover Ridge Park next to Madison Primary School.  The Farmer's Market Planning Committee has scheduled 9 special events that will feature samples of locally grown products, special workshops and market promotional items.  The 2009 Special Event dates and featured products are listed on the front page and available in a printer friendly format in the sidebar file folder on the right hand side on the page.

 

Two new events have been added to the calendar in November and December to help you support local agriculture with the purchase locally grown products for holiday gifts or to prepare a special holiday meal for your friends and family.  In addition to locally grown food, the Thanksgiving and Holiday Events will feature local craft vendors that will provide unique gift ideas for the season.

 

The Farmers' Market Blog will provide weekly updates on the market with an in-season fruit and vegetable report, pictorial and farm vendor spollights.

 

Check back in March for more updates.

 

Thank you for your support and we look forw

 

 

 

MADISON FARM 2 TABLE - Garden Spots Still Available.