Arlington Va Farmer's Market

By Author: William.Green.
Total Articles: 5
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Arlington is home to many small businesses and local vendors but the most prevalent and enduring group of local vendors is the Arlington Famer's Market at Courthouse. For over thirty years, the Arlington Courthouse farmer's market has brought together this community by joining farm fresh produce with the tight knit community. Farmer's markets are a wonderful thing! They allow for people who live in the city, who don't have the luxury of growing their own vegetables to have nearly immediate access to healthy, fresh produce while creating a powerful sense of community with the regular patrons and vendors.

The Courthouse market is great not only because it is a valuable part of the community, but because it supports local producers. All products at the market are grown or raised or made by the vendor who is selling them; absolutely no re-sale is allowed at the market- EVER. So, what you buy there, you know has come directly from the hands that reaped it, sewed it. This is market is also not of the kitschy sort. You will not find overpriced arts and crafts at Courthouse; this market stays true to its form of thirty years ...
... by solely supporting the local farmers.

Located just off of the Orange line one block south of the Courthouse station, the Arlington Farmer's Market is a treasure trove of bountiful produce, meats, even cheeses and honey! Usually when you think of a Farmer's market, you think of a summer time al-fresco event, but not here in Arlington- Courthouse is open year round! Many of the regular vendors are able to operate year round with their cycle of produce. Roland's Farm, for example has four greenhouses in which owner, operator, and Arlington Farmer's Market manager, Francis Roland harvests from year round. The market is open every Saturday from 8am to noon.

What makes these over thirty vendors local is that they come from a 125 mile radius and produce their own product. The Arlington Farmer's Market at Courthouse strives to focus on these key goals with their community market:
1. Providing the freshest and highest quality foods to our customers.
2. Allowing customers to meet the people who grow their food.
3. Supporting local farmers by limiting the distance (125 miles) from which a producer may travel.
4. Educating our customers about food, environment, and community issues through booths staffed by the Virginia Cooperative Extension, Master Gardeners, and community non-profits.

It is interesting to note that the market was originally founded through the Arlington office of the Virginia Cooperative Extension service in 1979. In the late seventies, the only weekly markets were held in Bethesda and D.C., so the thoughtful and practical Arlington Community Members opted to create the Courthouse weekly market to share with the rest of the community and has since become an indispensable part of the community. Whether you're looking to buy all of your groceries, or you just want to peruse the sights, sounds and smells of the Arlington farmer's market at Courthouse, don't forget to bring your tote just in case you find a few local items that you just can't leave the market without. Whatever time of year it is, every Saturday, you can meet your neighbors and find a bounty of farm fresh crops sold to you by those who grew them. You can visit http://ArbourRealty.com to learn more about local community events such as Arlington Farmer's Market.

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