Farmers Market @ St. Stephen’s kicks off on May 7
After two successful seasons of great vendors, live music and more, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church is excited to announce that the Farmers Market @ St. Stephen’s kicks off third season on May 7 with over 40 vendors. From Sarah Bartenstein, Director of Communications at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church: Beginning May 7, the market will be […]
After two successful seasons of great vendors, live music and more, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church is excited to announce that the Farmers Market @ St. Stephen’s kicks off third season on May 7 with over 40 vendors.
From Sarah Bartenstein, Director of Communications at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church:
Beginning May 7, the market will be open 8 a.m.-noon every Saturday through October, rain or shine. Since its creation is 2009, the Farmers Market @ St. Stephen’s has sought to connect our choices about the foods we buy and eat to our call to be stewards of God’s creation, as we build community and support local farmers.
The Market is located in the main parking lot of St. Stephen’s at 6000 Grove Avenue. Ample free parking is available. As a way to make Saturday mornings about the entire family, the Market has tables to enjoy prepared foods, chalk for kids to play with and water bowls for dogs.
The Farmers Market @ St. Stephen’s—voted the fifth most popular mid-sized market in the country last year—focuses on local producers. A large variety of seasonal vegetables, fruit, herbs, eggs, pastured poultry, bison, grass-fed beef, pork, flowers, artisan bread, pasta and other foods are available each week. In addition, the market features local artists, locally roasted coffee, prepared foods, and much more. There are also many breakfast and lunch options for you to enjoy while you are at the Market.
The Farmers Market @ St. Stephen’s is a self-supporting ministry of the parish.
Giving back
Market vendors and St. Stephen’s will once again work together to give all populations of Richmond access to healthy, fresh produce.
The gleaning program, introduced last year, asks market vendors to consider donating leftover food from the weekly market to the church’s food pantry.
Ali Moussalli, a proprietor of Frog Bottom Farm, suggested the idea during the 2009 season. “Gleaning is not a newfangled idea,” said Ali, who estimates that Frog Bottom Farm donates at least 100 pounds a week. “It makes so much sense for farmers who sell at market and through CSA: produce is perishable and so what’s left at the end of market can’t be sold later and needs to get used right away. It would be a shame for us to take the produce back home to the farm just to throw it away. We’re really grateful to St. Stephen’s for getting the food to people who need it.”
Goals
The market’s goals include:
- Connecting God’s call to environmental stewardship to the foods we eat, stewardship of resources, and reducing the carbon footprint of what we eat
- Building community by providing the city of Richmond and our local neighborhood with a healthy way to gather and connect with each other on a regular basis
- Educating patrons with practical ways to maintain the connection with the sources of their food Helping fill the growing demand for fresh, locally grown and prepared foods in Richmond
More information
The Market sends a weekly email newsletter on Thursdays, May through October, which includes the latest Market news and a seasonal recipe. To sign up, go to St. Stephen’s Web site, saintstephensrichmond.net/email, sign up for the Market newsletter and you’ll receive a confirmation email from Constant Contact.
A list of vendors for 2011 can be found at saintstephensrichmond.net/marketvendors.
The Farmers Market @ St. Stephen’s is also on Facebook, and on Local Harvest, http://www.localharvest.org/st-stephens-farmers-market-M26608.
Contact
Sarah Bartenstein
sbartenstein@saintstephensrichmond.net
804.288.2867Erin Wright
ewright@saintstephensrichmond.net
804.440.9928
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