5. Make It a Year-Round Habit
Don’t assume the produce bounty will be curtailed by cold weather. “A lot more farmers markets are going into the winter, because newer farmers, especially, are growing in greenhouses,” Tydings says. True, hothouse produce might not taste quite as amazing as that first summer tomato, but locally-grown stuff does have an advantage over similar hothouse crops that are grown far away. That’s because local farmers can wait until greenhouse fruits and veggies are ripe to pick for market.
Regulars may have noticed that strawberries were available well into late summer this year, thanks to an “ever-bearing” greenhouse variety. These season-extending options help farmers pay their winter bills and offer good alternatives to produce that’s grown overseas.
If your closest farmers market ends in November, there are other options for getting fresh produce through winter. Kuhn Orchards, which sells at the markets in Fairlington, Crystal City and Wakefield Park, offer weekly shares of apples, squash, potatoes, onions and canned goods through a winter CSA pickup program with drop-offs in the parking lots where the markets are usually held.
In addition, the Virginia Market Maker database aims to connect buyers to local producers throughout the year, particularly when they have certain items in bulk.