2011 Season

From West End Farmers’ Market — Blog by West End Farmers' Market

February 27, 2011

One morning last week, I thought I heard mourning doves, one of the first spring migrating birds, coo cooing outside. I raced to my front windows and then my back windows looking for them, but they weren’t there. I suspect they were a figment of my spring-obsessed mind. It is not just warmer weather I am looking forward to, but also the opportunity to buy fresh fruits and veggies at the farmers market. I am longing to pop just-picked ultra-sweet, deliciously juicy, ruby-red strawberries, and raspberries, as well as deep-earthy sweet blackberries in my mouth. I can’t wait to crunch into spring onions, just out of the ground; taste the tanginess of bok choy, the crunchy yumminess of new radishes. I could go on and on, but thinking about all the food-goodies spring and summer provides is just making me crazy-hungry. And I am not the only person. I get asked routinely now – when does the farmers market open? GREAT NEWS!
The West End Farmers Market is opening on Sunday May 1st. All your favorite vendors will be there and hopefully a few more to add to the spice and pizzazz of our market. We look forward to welcoming new vendors selling pickles, and more prepared foods. If you are new to the community here is an introduction to some of our vendors.
Alma’s Berries: Berries, Fruit, Garden Vegetables
Billie’s Flowers: Cut Flowers
Cavanna Pasta: Homemade Pasta and Sauces
Dressed Up Nuts: Flavored Nuts
Fresh Joseph: Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice, scones,
Great Harvest Bread: Breads, rolls, muffins
Guata Java: Roasted Coffees
J& W Farms: Vegetables
Lucia’s Farm: Vegetables and Fruits
Medina’s Farms: Vegetables
On the GOurment: VA Grown and made Gourmet condiments, foods, ice cream from VA grown
OPK Foods: Homemade organic sausages and meats
Papa’s Orchard: Fruits
Penn Farm: Vegetables
Roberto’s Flowers: Plants, cut flower arrangements
Sharon’s Breads: Breads, muffins, pastries
The Flavor Station: Coffee, tea, water, sodas
Tommy”s Cheese: Artisan Cheeses, yogurts, eggs, jams, jellies, condiments, sweet baked goods
Vero’s Bakery: Sweet rolls, muffins, breads, cookies, pastries
You are not going to believe this but a mourning dove just landed on my windowsill! Spring is officially around the corner. I will see you at the market!

Summer 2010

From West End Farmers’ Market — Blog by West End Farmers' Market

June 15, 2010

Hello,
I have been very busy keeping up with organizing the market this year. We expanded the number of vendors, nicely rounding out the kinds of products offered at the market. Welsh Gardens is a lavender farm. They do extraordinary things with the lavender, including making lavender pepper, lavender chocolate, and lavender biscotti. They are delicious and I highly recommend you try them. They also make a foaming hand soap made of all natural oils and of course hand creams, and sachets. We also welcomed Lucia of Lucia’s Farm, She is originally from Kenya and has been farming for five years. Great Harvest Bread has joined us as well as Cavanna Pasta and Brock frozen free-rang meats. The community has responded wholeheartedly and these vendors have had a great start to their season. I am hoping every person who reads this will come and enjoy our Sundays.

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Mary’s Elegant Tomato and Mozzarella Dish “My Friends Recipes”

From West End Farmers’ Market — Blog by West End Farmers' Market

August 12, 2009

Hello,

Even though these next few blogs are dedicated to quick and easy recipes I have inherited from my friends, I am going to sneak a small paragraph for a request. There is a “Best Farmers Market” competition sponsored by Local Harvest and Care2.com. Although the West End Farmers Market may not ever surpass the California markets with 5000 votes, we could get enough votes to be the best market in Virginia. I strongly urge you to vote as soon as possible for our market at http://www.care2.com/farmersmarket/search/?state=VA. The market could win money or cloth shopping bags to give out to customers. Thanks.

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My Friends’ Recipes

From West End Farmers’ Market — Blog by West End Farmers' Market

August 6, 2009

I am the associate market manager for the West End Farmers Market in Alexandria, Virginia. When the market opened near my house three summers ago, I found myself there pretty much every week, so the next summer I volunteered and this year I help Julie run the market.

I help run this market because I really love it. I love the way it looks on bright Sunday mornings, the shadows and light of the vendor’s tents nestled up against the green manicured perfection of Ben Brenman Park. I thoroughly enjoy the chance to meet my friends, my neighbors, and acquaintances and chat for a bit – it is like the world’s best brunch party. I adore the smells that assault my senses as I walk through the market, fresh orange juice at Fresh Joseph’s, hot coffee brewing at Williams stand, the yeasty aroma of fresh-baked breads, the heady smell of onions, tomatoes, garlic, peaches, and other fresh fruits and vegetables when I step under a vendor’s tent. For me the West End Farmers Market is an experience that never fails to deliver.

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West End Farmers Market Opening

From West End Farmers’ Market — Blog by West End Farmers' Market

April 19, 2009

At dawn on Sunday May 3, the West End Farmers Market vendors will set up their tents and tables in the south parking lot of Ben Brenman Park for the first day of the 2009 summer season. Two divisions of the Alexandria Library System ‘The Ready, Set, Grow’ program and the ‘All Alexandria Reads’ program will be participating in celebrating the opening. The library will bring a storyteller to entertain the children, while the grown-ups indulge in the pleasures of the palate. An acoustic musician will be playing at the other end of the market. In between will be a scrumptious array of local food.

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