Fairfax Urges Folks to Buy Local Produce

As the Fairfax County Park Authority prepares for the grand opening of its 11th farmers market this weekend, the folks who run the program would like to remind you that there are four seasons and that until the advent of global trade, there were only certain times of the year when you could find, or at least afford, a juicy tomato.

They also say they hope that the Lorton Farmers Market, which opened May 3 but will have a celebratory grand opening 10 a.m. Sunday, will build on contemporary trends by "locavores" to find and consume food products grown close to home as a way of conserving energy and helping the environment. Products on sale at the market must be produced within 125 miles, and baked goods must be made with ingredients produced nearby.

As part of the Park Authority's expansion of farmers markets, Anna Braum, the farmers market coordinator, said the authority is "reintroducing the concept of having things at certain times of the year and not at others." She said surveys conducted by the Park Authority suggest people have changed their buying habits at grocery stores and supermarkets after refamiliarizing themselves with seasonal varieties of produce.

Farmers markets are as old as civilization; they just seem new in suburbia. As roadside stands gave way to subdivisions and supermarkets, urban farmers markets took their place.

In Fairfax, no one is sure when the first county-run farmers market was held. A search through newspaper archives suggests that a farmers market began at Fairfax City's Massey Building, when it served as the county courthouse, in the 1970s.

Judy Pedersen, a Park Authority spokeswoman, said 70 vendors pay $300 per market per year to sell their products.

The Lorton Farmers Market will run through Oct. 25. It is in the VRE parking lot at 8890 Lorton Station Blvd. The Fairfax County Government Center and Centreville are possible venues for future county markets.

Fairfax farmers markets are supervised by the Park Authority through the Community Horticulture office based at Green Spring Gardens. For other information about the markets, call 703-642-0128.