With beautiful weather and tables loaded with local goods, the new Green Valley farmers market’s second week in business attracted a host of vendors and shoppers.
The market’s opening day earlier this month had been marred by a combination of cold and rainy weather. On Friday, however, plentiful sunshine and temperatures in the 70s — combined with plentiful fresh produce and ready-to-eat offerings — made for an almost picture-perfect evening from 4-7 p.m.
Emphasis on “almost.”
“Now we’ve got wind,” said Portia Clark, a longtime civic leader who runs the nonprofit organization CARE Inc., which last year won County Board permission to operate the market at John M. Robinson, Jr. Town Square.
The wind rushing in from the south tested the aerodynamic capabilities of some tents set up to cover vendors, but most seemed to survive unscathed once erected.
A large number of vendors and civic groups set up spaces around the town square. Offerings ranged from vegetables to sugar-free sweets, artisan cheeses and chicken, fish, crab and barbecue sandwiches.
Goldman Farm, a sixth-generation Black-owned farm set on 250 acres in Charlotte County downstate, got some help from Green Valley residents and customers as its staff set up tables that were laden with everything from tomatoes to mustard greens. A variety of springtime potted flowers also were part of its offerings.
Local youth hosted a spirited game of tag — the rules being made up on the fly — throughout the town square.
Last fall, county leaders approved holding the farmers market weekly on Fridays from early April to Thanksgiving. Up to 19 vendors can be accommodated, and their arrangement does not impede traffic flow through the Green Valley community.
Parking is available at Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School as well as Lomax AME Zion and Macedonia Baptist churches.
Clark last fall told ARLnow the initial plan had been to open the market in the spring of 2024, but delays caused that to be pushed back to April 2025.
She said organizers were “looking forward to the opening and the opportunity to create this opportunity in our community,” and hoped to build the endeavor to provide “something for all.”
The Green Valley operation is one of 10 farmers markets authorized by the county government.
