Alexandria Farmer’s Market: For Health and Good Taste
Posted by David Zadareky on Friday, June 3rd, 2011 at 1:30pm.
For those living in the Alexandria, VA area, quality of life is important, including what you put on your table to eat. When it comes to locally grown food, the choices are healthy here and the tastes can’t be beat.
As they have since 1753, local farmers gather to offer the fruits (and vegetables) of their labor to local residents. The Farmer's Market held at the Alexandria City Hall, 301 King Street, is one of the oldest continually-operated markets of its kind, running year-round on Saturdays from 5:30 a.m. to 11: 00 a.m. It’s easy to find, is accessible by car or public transportation, and is popular with people throughout the entire region who love good fresh food. All of this is right outside of Washington, DC!
What will you find at this market?
Locally grown fruits and vegetables along with farm specialty products are available from May to the season’s end as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches.
All the food is fresh picked. As the growing season progresses, you can experience and enjoy a riot of colors and a multitude of flavors in sweet corn, heirloom tomatoes, peppers, beans, eggplant, and cucumbers. For sweet natural treats, take time to savor the locally grown peaches, apricots, plums of various colors, cherries and a variety of melons. For dessert, you must try a dish of the early strawberries with a generous dollop of cream fresh from the farm.
You should know that the market offers much more than fruits and vegetables. Some vendors offer baked goods, artisan cheese, milk, and freshly made yogurt. Many sell their grass-fed, free-range chickens and the eggs they produce, along with a wide variety of meats and seafood harvested from small-scale family farms. As the online resource Local Harvest states, “Real food, real farmers, real community.”
While there, check out The Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program, another approach to offer local healthful food to Alexandria. CSA Program members sell a share of what is grown and harvested from their farms; for a set fee, consumers can partake of fresh food each week throughout the growing season from July through November.
The CSA uses only non-GMO seeds and local heirloom varieties for the best in taste and hardiness. Utilizing growing techniques such as permaculture, Biodynamic, cover crops, crop rotation and composting they grow the food without the use of harmful chemicals. You can talk to the farmers about these techniques every time you pick up your share of food at the farm.
These exciting fresh food options are yet another reason why Alexandria is so popular. If you are looking to move here, let us help you find your perfect place. We’ll help you “Save A Few Thousand” with our programs and experience of this Northern Virginia home market. Contact us today at http://www.saveafewthousand.com/.
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