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“Buy local. Eat local.  As the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), I am delighted that so many Virginians are taking these ideas to heart and putting them into practice," said Todd Haymore. “They make sense for a lot of very good reasons.  If you’re not already on board, Virginia Farmers Market Week is the perfect time to join the crowd. This is a time we set aside to emphasize the importance of farmers markets and all the reasons why buying directly from a farmer makes sense.”

In the NRV, Farmers’ Markets are located in Blacksburg, Narrows, Radford and Pulaski.

The Blacksburg Farmers Market is located at the corner of Roanoke and Draper Streets in downtown Blacksburg and is open from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday’s and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. The Narrows Farmers Market, located on Monroe Street is opened from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday thru Sataurday. The Radford Farmers Market is opened on Saturday’s from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is located on Main Street in Downtown Radford, while the Pulaski Farmers Market, which is located at the Historic Depot in Downtown Pulaski is opened from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday’s.

Some of the items you will find at the Farmers’ Markets across the New River Valley include corn, squash, tomatoes, potatoes, cantelope, watermelon, green beans and various other fruits and vegatables. Several of the local Farmers’ Market also carry locally-grown organic items.

"The fact that there is a Farmers Market week is a great sign for our future," said Jenny Schwanke, Market Director for the Blacksburg Farmers Market. "Our Farmers Market is an indicator of an effort to (regain) and (re)build a community that can sustain itself. That's good for everyone."

According to Haymore, this year VDACS has issued a challenge to all Virginians to 'Eat Local' for a Day. Choose a day during Farmers Market Week, between now and August 9, 2008, and on that day, consume only foods and beverages grown or produced in Virginia.  Then show us how you did it.  Send us a video showing what you bought, where you bought it, how you cooked it and, of course, how much you enjoyed it. 

The best video will win a full-to-bursting prize basket of Virginia foods, beverages, a Virginia Grown polo shirt, a logo cap or tote bag, and a host of other Virginia items. In addition, we’ll post it on our Web site and on YouTube. The deadline for submission is September 3, 2008, and your video must feature locally-grown and Virginia Grown or produced products.

Videos should be emailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it by the Sept. 3 deadline.

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Haymore added some of the reason to eat locally produced items are: great taste (which is one of the main reasons people are flocking to buy field-fresh), ripe and ready Virginia Grown fruits, vegetables, eggs, honey, cheese and more. In addition to exceptional taste, you’ll find richer colors, firmer textures and better nutrition with local produce because it’s harvested while flavor, form and nutrition are at their peak. Fruits and vegetables from distant locations are often harvested well in advance and diminish overall when shipped or stored for several days. 

When you select fruits and vegetables grown on nearby farms, you are choosing produce that was on the vine, in the field or on the tree just a short time before you get to enjoy it. The only way to get it any fresher is to pick it yourself. And a lot of people are doing that, too, and having a great time in the process at Virginia’s many pick-your-own farms and orchards. 

Buying local is environmentally responsible because it reduces food miles, the distance food travels from the farm to your table. It also has food safety implications because purchasers get the chance to find out where their food comes from, who grew it and the production practices used to keep it safe to eat.

Don’t forget that when you buy Virginia Grown, you’re also enhancing your local economy, helping Virginia’s 46,000 farms continue to generate annual sales of approximately $36 billion and maintain about 388,000 jobs statewide and you are doing your part to maintain agriculture as Virginia’s number one industry. You are also lending a hand to protect the state’s green and open spaces which provide habitats for wildlife, offer visual appeal and help keep the air clean.

Buying Virginia Grown and Virginia produced helps keep farmers farming and lessens the dependence on imported food.

Photos: (Top left) These ladies look over the many items you can find at the Blacksburg Farmers Market.  (Right) Vegatables and fruit are just a few of the items you can buy at the Radford Farmers Market.
(Photos by David Grimes)

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