Local Environmental Agriculture Project
"Building stronger communities through sustainable agriculture."
LEAP works to develop, support, and maintain an economically viable, socially just, and environmentally sound local food system in the greater Roanoke region. By expanding local food markets, we keep our farmers farming, provide local folks with access to fresh healthy food, build our local economy, and strengthen our community connections.
Find out who's coming to market tomorrow and what goodies they're bringing. Learn about our local farmers and other food producers. See which local chefs are including local foods into their delicious entrées and pick up a recipe or two. Visit our interactive wiki site for real time, up-to-date information straight from the local producers to you. Click here to visit the site.
Last fall, the West End Community Market won the FLITE award for the best health and wellness initiative in the state, given by the First Lady of Virginia. The First Lady wil visit the market on the morning of June 13, 2011. Click here to learn more about the award. A video was produced by Jim Crawford of Swinging Gate productions that details the work of LEAP and the West End Community Market. Watch the video.
LEAP has been instrumental in developing farmers' markets in the Roanoke area. Two farmers' markets that have recently opened are the Grandin Village Community Market and the West End Community Market. It has 15 vendors featuring certified and non-certified organic veggies, fruit, herbs, seasonal seedlings, goat cheese, pasture raised/grass-fed chicken, beef, pork, and lamb, plus fresh smoked trout, artisanal homemade breads, muffins, and other baked goods.
Both community markets operate under the 100 mile rule. All items sold at the market must originate within 100 miles of the market location. Currently, 90% of the producers at both markets produce goods within 50 miles of the markets. Although it is not a rule, the majority of the products sold at the markets are produced with organic methods.
Coming Soon!
The Grandin Village Community Market Will Reopen on April 23rd, 2011.
The Grandin Village Community Market will reopen on Earth Day, Saturday April 23rd, at 8 am. The market will be open every Saturday from 8 am - 12 noon. Through a grant program sponsored by the Virginia Department of Social Services, SNAP-EBT benefits wil be accepted at the Grandin Village Community Market beginning May 2011.
The West End Community Market Will Reopen on April 5th, 2011.
The West End Community Market is set to officially reopen for the 2011 season on Tuesday, April 5th. That's right, we're moving to Tuesdays. The market will be open the same time, 3 pm - 6 pm, and the same place at the West End Center for Youth on the corner of Patterson Ave. and 13th Street SW, but one day earlier. Through a grant program sponsored by the Virginia Department of Social Services, SNAP-EBT benefits wil be accepted at the West End Community Market starting May 2011.
- Learn more about LEAP events at the Grandin Community Market blog and the Grandin Village Market Facebook page.