08/27/2026
MARKET MOMENT WITH LORI
I think about this a lot, especially when the weather doesn't cooperate.
When you walk through a farmers market and see all of those beautiful tables filled with vegetables, baked goods, prepared foods, jams, seafood, meats, flowers, and everything else our vendors bring, it can be easy to forget how much happens behind the scenes to get those products there.
Our vendors are preparing all week long.
Our farmers are watching their crops, harvesting, washing, sorting, packing, and deciding what is ready to go to market. Our bakers are measuring, mixing, proofing, baking, cooling, and packaging. Our prepared food vendors are sourcing ingredients, prepping, cooking, labeling, and making sure everything is ready.
And our vendors are doing this in all kinds of different ways.
Some are running their own farms. Some work from commercial or shared kitchens. Some have storefronts or co-ops. Some travel to multiple markets throughout the week. Some are doing all of this while also working another job or running a family business. But no matter what their setup looks like, there is a tremendous amount of work that happens before those products ever make it onto a market table.
And then comes the weather.
When the forecast turns ugly, it's not simply a matter of deciding whether they feel like coming to the market.
They may have already spent days preparing. They may have purchased ingredients, harvested crops, baked products, prepared meals, packaged everything, loaded their vehicles, and made plans around several different markets throughout the week.
For some products, especially fresh produce, baked goods, prepared foods, and other perishable items, there isn't always a way to simply put everything away and save it for another day. And that's the part of farmers markets that I wish more people could see.
There is a person behind every table. There is a farmer, a baker, a cook, a small business owner, a family, or a team of people who have put time, money, energy, and a whole lot of love into what they're bringing to you.
Having a storefront doesn't make that work any less.
Being part of a co-op doesn't make that work any less.
Going to three markets a week doesn't make that work any less.
Every product still represents someone's time and effort.
And when you choose to buy from a local vendor, you're helping support that work. You're helping a small business keep going, a farmer keep growing, and a local food system stay strong.
That's what buying local means to me. It's not just about where your food comes from. It's about knowing that there are real people behind it—and choosing to support them.
Thank you for showing up for our vendors throughout the season, through the sunshine, the heat, the humidity, the rain, and everything else Virginia weather decides to throw at us.
It means more than you probably realize.
See you at the market!
