Meet local farmers— and shop for fresh food!

It’s almost time for the annual Fayette County Farmers Market! Head to Fayetteville and Oak Hill for vegetables, fruit, baked goods and delicacies fresh from the fields.

Your open-air grocery store 

This time of year, supermarkets stock up on summer favorites: corn, strawberries, tomatoes and the like. But imagine knowing exactly where all your food comes from…farmers right in your own backyard!
Starting on May 13, shop for ingredients at the Fayette County Farmers Market instead. Rainbow carrots, crimson tomatoes, sweet bell peppers and cucumbers are typical arrivals. Duck and chicken eggs are specialties, too. Fresh flavors and vibrant yellow yolks are reasons enough to try one!
Other highlights include fresh meat and home-baked goods like warm bread, pepperoni rolls and cookies. Local farmers often have honey, maple syrup, and jelly, too.
The market opens every Saturday in Fayetteville from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Look for booths by The Station restaurant. Farmers also display their wares at the Rick Rutledge Pavilion in Oak Hill every Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Meet your farmers

Hope Springs Farm in Oak Hill specializes in alpacas and silver fox rabbits. It’s an usual combination that makes the owners’ booth particularly eye-catching. They usually have yarn, crocheted textiles, apples and fresh meat. Keep your eyes peeled for amber jars of dandelion jam and magenta watermelon jelly!
You’re welcome to visit the farm, too. Just call first beforehand.
If you’re more of a city mouse, though, visit Top Knot Cafe instead. It’s the latest offshoot from Hope Springs Farm. Sit back with a cappuccino, munch on a cookie or try a sandwich made with homemade bread. The little eatery also has shelves of alpaca accessories like sweaters, scarves, and bags.
West Virginia Homegrown Farms in Hico also sells produce. During the growing season, you can stop by for vegetables like radishes, herbs, salad lettuce and spinach. The owners also have fresh brown eggs and pasture-raised pork.
Another place to check out is Deep Mountain Farm in Fayetteville. The owners raise heritage chickens and organic produce: carrots, greens, garlic, tomatoes, rare herbs and more. They will have Icelandic sheep this year, too. It’s a new farm, but one of the most advanced in terms of sustainable practices.
Sweet Mouse Farm in Victor has all kinds of heritage animals. Californian rabbits, Nigerian dwarf goats, Coturnix quail, Juliana pigs and unusual fowl live on the homestead. The owners set up at the Fayetteville Farmers’ Market, so try to find them. They usually have fresh chicken, eggs, homemade bread and other tasty goodies.
What usually gets you salivating when you see it at the farmers’ market?