Schuyler farmers market to begin next month

A new farmers market is set to start in Nelson County in Schuyler next month.

The Schuyler Community Farmers Market is scheduled to begin May 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Schuyler Community Center and Walton’s Mountain Museum parking lot on Virginia 617 and will be held every Saturday through October.

The need for fresh, local produce and community activities was what drew a committee of a dozen Schuyler residents to form the market, said committee member Buck Whitehurst.

“The idea came about for two major reasons,” Whitehurst said. “One was that we wanted to support local producers and get fresh local foods and crafts. The other thing was just a social component. There’s no sort of regular activity where you go and meet people that live around here.”

The planning process has brought together people who have lived in Schuyler for more a decade but had never met each other together, Whitehurst said, something that is almost unheard of in a small community.

The committee has raised more than $500 in start-up funds so far, and the Schuyler Community Center also awarded the group a matching grant of $500.

The committee also asked high school art students create a logo. 

The plan is to feature producers from around the region selling a variety of different goods, from alpaca yarn to shitake mushrooms to dried flowers and seasonal food products.

Whitehurst said the current vendors have had the chance to give a lot of their input into how the market is run.

“That’s something that they’re not used to and its something that they seem happy about,” he said.

“The more vendors, the happier the customers will be,” Whitehurst said. “What would make us feel more confident and optimistic is more people saying they want to be involved.”

At the same time the Schuyler market is scheduled to begin, another will continue in Nellysford. Whitehurst said he does not believe the markets will be competitors.

“There’s also (a market) in Scottsville and we’re kind of in the middle,” he said. “For me to go to Nellysford, it’s a 30-minute drive. Scottsville is not much closer. So we’re hoping it serves the people that are really on the cusp. If we’re five miles closer to where they live than Nellysford is, it would give them another option.”

For more information on the Schuyler Community Farmers Market, call Buck Whitehurst at (434) 831-2828 or e-mail him at .