The View From Over Here

Reston Farmers Market—New Year Begins

Wait a minute!   My calendar tells me we’re not even done with January yet.  Farmers markets don’t open until May, right?

Right—actually the Reston Farmers Market won’t begin its 15th year at Lake Anne until Saturday, May 5, 2012.  Mark that down on your calendar.

But, already the volunteer Market Masters who manage the 12 weekly markets sponsored by the Fairfax County Park Authority have held two important meetings— one was a gathering of all market masters on Jan.  5. The second was a meeting with farmers and vendors on Jan. 10. As the Co-Market Masters of the Reston Farmers Market, my wife Fran and I attended both meetings.

The first meeting reviewed market operations in 2011, focusing on problems, changes in policies and rules for 2012.  Unlike some years when major problems occur or controversial changes are in the offing (e.g., the addition of “exotic” new products), 2012 began quietly.  Last year was a generally successful year for county markets - and especially so for the Reston Farmers Market.

The second was a meeting with about 150 farmers and food and plant vendors. Meeting with these prospective vendors is always more fun and it’s where we really begin shaping the market for the coming year.  Our market is the county’s second largest.  We had 26 vendors last year; Burke Farmers Market probably had a few more. 

The RFM has very little turnover because vendors tend to do well here.  We might expect to lose a couple from one year to the next, and we are always on the lookout for new products which might interest our well-informed and discerning shoppers.  So far, we are aware of only one vendor not returning, although we’ve not heard from all of last year’s team yet.

Meanwhile, we’ve begun responding to scores of vendors interested in the RFM, and we've done some outreach of our own.  On a tip last October, we traveled to a farm northwest of Baltimore.  Our son travels to the area each year and told us he always stops at this particular farm and its store.  We decided to take a look for ourselves. 

When we arrived, we immediately saw this interesting product on the hoof - huge buffalos, some looked eight feet tall - milling about in the fields next to the farm store. 

This was Gunpowder Bison & Trading Company.  In the store, we met proprietor Trey Lewis, who gave us a tour of the store and meat storage areas.  Trey warned against entering the fields with bison (the correct name for the animal, he assured us) in residence.  Turns out bison are very good eating and better for you than beef, with significantly less fat and cholesterol.  But, the critters have an attitude problem and can do serious damage to visitors. 

We were quite impressed with the Gunpowder operation.  They have a large spread and an excellent selection of meat offerings.  Naturally, we bought some for taste testing back home.  Susequently, we tried three cuts—all were delicious.

Lewis, it turns out, had researched the Reston Farmers Market after we’d called and asked to come on the visit.  As a result, he said, he was also impressed.  We are happy to report that Gunpowder has applied for entry into the Fairfax County markets, specifically Reston in 2012.  We look forward to introducing Gunpowder Bison to our wonderful Reston shoppers on May 5.

Meanwhile, we are pursuing an organic mushroom grower, and have preliminary commitments from a new plant vendor we recruited from the Herndon Farmers Market.  The return of Valentine Miller’s Country Bakery and Meats after a two-year absence likely brings us to full complement — unless we find one more special farmer who can meet the Reston standard. 

We should note in closing this first report on the 2012 Reston Farmers Market that several returning vendors tell us they are adding interesting new products to their already terrific inventory. 

More later about this and what else you can look forward to in the best farmers market in Northern Virginia - 2012 version.