I finally made it to the City Market – Charlottesville’s version of a farmer’s market but with jewelry and food purveyors as well. I go for the produce, honey and cheeses. When I was a child we always used to stop at farm stands to get our vegetables and fruits. Most of the time you picked up what you wanted and left some money in a coffee can as payment. Every now and then the farmer or his kids would be manning the stand and it was great to talk with them about what they were growing this year, how the crops were doing and what was going to be at the stand next week. Unfortunately farm stands aren’t common anymore.
The City Market opens the first weekend in April but there isn’t much produce or fruit for sale until May so I don’t worry if I don’t make it there when it first opens. The weather this weekend was gorgeous and made for a perfect day at the market. I came home with Swiss Chard, beautiful radishes, fresh strawberries and some honey. I can hardly wait until more farmers are there with produce and fewer food vendors.
My alternate choice for a farmer’s market is Farmers in the Park. I actually like this better because it is 95% farmers and maybe one or two food vendors. It is much smaller and allows you time to talk with the people who grow the produce or work on the farms. This year Farmers in the Park doesn’t open until June 3rd. I will be there!
We use this fresh produce in our Sunday breakfast specials – Farmer’s Market Frittata or Farmer’s Market Vegetable Fritters with Eggs. It all depends on what I can find at the market that week.
Hope to see you soon!
Dan & Kathryn Bundy, your innkeepers
Foxfield Inn, a luxurious bed and breakfast in Charlottesville, VA