Growers' Market

One of my favorite places to visit when I'm travelling to other cities -- be they here or abroad -- is an open-air or farmers' market. I was, of course, spoiled when I studied in France and visited Italy. The market, to Europeans, is not just a way of life, but very nearly an art form. The colors, the displays and the tourist-savvy merchants hawking their wares all seem to beckon to customers like a Siren's call to lost sailors. I absoultely love wandering through these areas. Nothing gives you the flavor of a place like an open-air market.

That's not to say that the Old Worlders have a corner on the, uh, market market. The city markets in Baltimore, although indoors, and the market area in Pittsburgh are quite enjoyable and have a real multi-cultural flair. And the markets in and around Fanueil Hall in Boston are wonderful.

You can imagine my joy -- yes, joy! -- when I heard that Richmond was trying to revive interest in a farmer's market of our own. Sure, the Farmers' Market down in Shockoe Slip has been there for awhile, but visiting it is not a part of Richmond culture. Heck, going downtown is not a part of Richmond culture.

So with the hopes of starting a weekly shopping and lunch tradition for local residents and downtown workers, the Growers' Market began in July. Every Thursday now through December, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., local farmers and other speciality vendors rent space for a nominal fee and offer a delicious and intriguing variety of items.

Sounded good to me. I put on my walking shoes and dragged my intrepid sidekick and trusty photographer, Bill Rice, down to the market a few weeks ago. We arrived a little before noon and, along with the usual farmers' market fare of tomatoes, peppers, melons, etc., we found everything from fresh cheeses to flowers, from organic produce to free-range poultry, from homemade breads and pastries to fresh herbs and spices. We even sampled goat cheese sorbet and ostrich sausage. Believe it or not, the goat cheese sorbet was incredible! And the ostrich was, well, it tasted like sausage, but I couldn't quite get the idea that I was eating ostrich out of my head. . .

And speaking of samples, you could practically make a lunch out of them. But if you still wanted more, you could line up, as my hungry companion did, for a fresh tomato sandwich. It's $3 for a tomato and mayo sandwich with potato chips. For another dollar, they'll add a slice of fresh mozzarella cheese and big, fragrant basil leaves. It looked so good, it made me wish I liked raw tomatoes. It didn't matter, though. I made a lunch of homemade whole wheat bread, apple butter and a pumpkin whoopie pie!

While some vendors set up shop there just about every week, the selection is different each time. And some vendors are there for only a few hours in the morning. (See sidebar for Stephanie Saccone's report on her morning forays to the market.)

The city is offering a free shuttle -- the Tomato Express --to the Growers' Market from several locations downtown including City Hall and The Bank of America beginning at 11 a.m. And the Virginia Cooperative Extension has a master gardener on hand at the market to answer questions.

Between the free ride, the good food, good prices and the fine conversation from the vendors and all the folks you'll see there, you've got no excuse! To market, to market you must go!

I came home with a bag full of goodies (Italian sweet peppers for 25 cents each!) and my able assistant came back with a camera full of pictures. Click to see a slide show of our trip to the market, then visit it yourself!

NBI -- September 2000

Growers' Market

17th Street

Every Thursday
8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Call 780-8596
for more info

View the slide show of our visit to the Growers' Market.

Early birds at the
Growers' Market