Once called the breadbasket of the South, the Shenandoah Valley is home to four of Virginia’s top five farming counties and accounts for about a third of its total agricultural GDP. Fertile soils, broad grassy pastures, and dense forests ripe with berries, tubers, and walnuts bring heavenly produce and meat products—and superlative farmers markets. Here’s our guide to four of the region’s best.
Winchester Farmers Market—Relatively new to the game, this market was founded in 2022 and is located on the outskirts of the city’s historic downtown area in the spacious Freedom AG and Energy Cooperative parking lot. It’s open year-round on Tuesdays and Thursdays and features gastronomical goodies from more than two dozen area producers. Highlights include gourmet to-go meals from the Chef’s Corner food truck; internationally inspired jams, kimchi, slaws, and salsas from Josephine’s Kitchen; and farm-grown mushrooms from Peasant’s Parcel.
Harrisonburg Farmers Market—The region’s oldest municipally-backed farmers market is held on Saturdays year-round at an expansive, purpose-built downtown pavilion surrounded by greenspace and ample parking. Live musical performances and more than 50 vendors—including food trucks, local vineyards, and cideries—make for a lively and delicious weekend outing. There’s Mill Song Bakery’s fresh-baked breads, granola, and crepes. Long Acre Farm offers homemade elderberry lemonade, syrups, honeys, and teas. Get heritage breed, forest raised, free-range pork and beef products from PorkStork farm. And that’s just the shortlist.
Staunton Farmers Market—A large, tree and sculpture-lined municipal parking lot in the historic Wharf District of one of the country’s most beloved small towns is home to a foodie paradise on Saturdays from early April to late November. Neighboring Ciders From Mars opens its taproom and outdoor seating area early, while bluegrass and Americana groups pick tunes on a seasonal stage. Food trucks bring options like gourmet tacos from Chicano Boy and hot Peruvian chicken from Gonzo’s Pollo. OG vendors like regenerative ag pros Snow Spring Farm offer 30-40 varieties of heirloom fruits and veggies, while sustainably raised, free-range pork, beef, and chicken come courtesy of Elk Run Farm. WinchesterFarmersMarketVa.com, HarrisonburgFarmersMarket.com, StauntonFarmersMarket.org
This article originally appeared in the Best of Virginia 2024 issue.
