Besides local fruits, vegetables and herbs, farmers markets host food entrepreneurs and their wares. Here are some of this year’s crop of new vendors.
By Emily Cook and Mia Finley
Barnola
Granola bars with flavors like nutty orange and rosemary almond.
Where: Alexandria Smart Markets Huntington (Thurs. 3-7 p.m.); Alexandria Smart Markets Springfield (Sat. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.)
Black Pug Smokehouse
Local antibiotic- and hormone-free meats as well as fish, cheeses, nuts and sea salts, all infused with smoke.
Where: Alexandria West End Farmers Market (Sun. 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.)
California Girl Functional Foods
A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley with degrees in food science and public health, Pamela DuRousseau sells eight different blends of lacto-fermented vegetables, fruits, herbs and spices.
Where: Ashburn Farmers Market (Sat. 8 a.m.-noon)
Cowbell Kitchen
Homemade biscuits, jams, soups, grilled cheese sandwiches and pastries by Cheryl Strasser, who sells her farm-driven seasonal menu out of a food truck.
Where: Ballston Farmers Market (Thurs. 3-7 p.m.)
Gypsy Soul Farmstand*
Beignets, dips and soups from chef RJ Cooper of Mosaic District’s Gypsy Soul restaurant.
Where: Mosaic Central Farm Market (Sun. 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.)
*The restaurant closed this week, we are waiting for confirmation on the status of the farmstand
Kohl Family Farm
Goat cheese, jams and greens from a family-owned, pesticide-free farm in Lexington. Expect butter and ice cream in the future.
Where: Falls Church Farmers Market (Sat. 8 a.m.-noon); Haymarket Farmers Market (Thurs. 2:30-6:30 p.m.); Manassas Farmers Market (Thurs. and Sat. 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m.)
Loopy Scoops
Handmade ice cream, sorbets, popsicles and ice cream sandwiches made with ingredients from local vendors. Flavors change weekly but include lemon basil, popcorn, poached apple and piña colada.
Where: Manassas Farmers Market (Sat. 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m.)
Nitro’s Creamery
Made-to-order ice cream frozen via liquid nitrogen with flavors reflecting the season, such as strawberry and beet.
Where: Reston Farmers Market (Sat. 8 a.m.-noon); Lorton Farmers Market (Sun. 9 a.m.-1 p.m.); Workhouse Arts Center Farmers Market in Lorton (Sun. 1-5 p.m.)
Oat My Goodness
Created by mother-daughter duo Shohreh and Yasaman Vojdani, the three types of granola offered are Vintage (tastes like oatmeal cookies), Sunrise (orange, coffee, mango and macadamia nuts) and Bad Monkey (peanut butter, banana and chocolate).
Where: Mosaic Central Farm Market (Sun. 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.)
Pink Polka Dot Bake Shop
Custom cake pops and cupcakes from Heather Gonzalez, a stay-at-home mom from Ashburn.
Where: Brambleton Farmers Market (Sun. 9 a.m.-1 p.m.)
Sā Sweets
Cakes and cupcakes by a mother-daughter duo, Sarah and Brooke Benson.
Where: North Stafford Farmers Market (Sun. 8 a.m.-1 p.m.)
Sweetdele’s Sweet Treats
Dentist assistant-turned-chef Deborah Brown specializes in rum and lemon pound cakes and chocolate chip cookies.
Where: Alexandria West End Farmers Market (Sun. 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.)
Tart Cart
Gluten-free, vegan baked goods like sweet tarts, cheesecakes and savory cakes such as socca, an Italian chickpea pancake.
Where: Fredericksburg Farmers Market (Sat. 7 a.m.-2 p.m.)
(August 2015)
