Residents have more choices for produce

For the first time, Nelson County’s four farmers markets were officially open and in full swing simultaneously last weekend, and despite the wet and rainy weather, customers turned out at each to purchase locally grown or made products.

The Nelson Farmers Market Co-operative has been a staple in Nellysford for the past 12 years and this year, three more farmers markets were added to the list, one in Lovingston, another in Schuyler and an online market based in Faber.

The Co-op opened a second location in Lovingston on May 6 at the Nelson Center on U.S. 29, scheduled to be open 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays until October.

Almost a dozen vendors sold their wares to customers holding umbrellas or huddling under raincoats at the Lovingston market.

“I think for our first day, our first showing and a rainy day to boot, I’m pleased,” said the market’s manager, Rik Hale said. “I was expecting a few more, but the weather has deterred that.”

Hale said the rain kept away a few vendors who had promised to show up, because they did not have outdoor tents.

Rain also kept away vendors from the new Schuyler Farmers Market, which opened May 9. It will be open every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., said Buck Whitehurst, a member of the market’s founding committee.

“It went great,” Whitehurst said. “As far as everybody was concerned, the weather was iffy. We had eight vendors. I don’t know how many people came, but it was enough for the vendors to be happy.”

Whitehurst said that since the weather for this weekend’s market might be better, then the number of vendors should double.

At 56 vendors total, the Nelson Farmers Market Co-operative in Nellysford has the most vendors it has ever had, said Co-operative president Donna Kincaid.

The market is open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon until October. Opening day was May 2, and the turnout was “very, very large,” Kincaid said.

“Everyone seemed to be happy,” she said. “I had people since January asking when the market is coming. It’s a major event for people, this particular market is.”

Nelson’s first online farmers market, http://www.nelson.locallygrown.net, has grown as well, from a dozen vendors to more than 25 since opening for business in March, said the creator, Jessie Carter.

Locally Grown Nelson is an online farmers market that connects local producers with consumers via the Web site and now has more than 150 products for sale.

“It’s going great,” she said. “We’re having some regular customers, and new customers are signing up pretty much every day.”

Carter said the demand is mostly for locally grown produce such as eggs, meat, bread and greens, which sell out.

Each week, on Sunday and Monday, customers place orders through the Web site. Then on Wednesday, they pick up and pay for their purchases from 3:30 to 6 p.m. at the Rockfish Valley Community Center in Nellysford.

Since the online market opened, Carter has added two more pickup points, at Crossroads Store in North Garden on Wednesday from 7 to 8 p.m. and all day Thursday at the Carter Farm in Faber.

“We’re growing,” Carter said. “That’s good. I know it takes time for people to get used to ordering food online.”