The farmers market is my happy place. On an ideal Saturday, I’ll get to the market early with my family, and we’ll start our weekend with a leisurely stroll among our neighbors – including musicians, chefs, and artisans, because the market is more than food! The farmers market is where the community comes together. It succeeds as a social third place because the market is for everyone. Food is something we all have in common, and the market is free to attend and enjoy. LEAP is committed to making the fresh, local, sustainable food you can find there accessible to folks at all income levels, too. All LEAP markets accept SNAP, and LEAP provides a $1 for $1 match on fruits and vegetables for people who participate in SNAP, Medicaid, or WIC through our Harvest Bucks program. 

The farmers market is an opportunity to celebrate the centrality of food in our lives. Sometimes I’ll grab a hot breakfast sandwich and an iced coffee to savor while I browse lush greens, ripe fruit, local eggs and fresh sourdough breads. It’s convenient to check off much of my grocery list – hand-selecting nutritious local foods that I know we’ll enjoy together throughout the week. I often encounter foods that are culturally important to my neighbors, but that I’ve never tried before, and will go home with new ingredients or preparation ideas. 

I also enjoy investing directly in my community. Being at the market makes me feel rooted. As I walk among the stalls, it’s clear to me that I am home. I see friends and stop to chat; I recognize vendors and know that their food was grown right down the street. At LEAP markets, all products are raised or prepared within 100 miles of Roanoke. By shopping at the farmers market, I keep my dollars within my community and help it to thrive.

Farmers markets play an essential role in economic development. They present tangible opportunities to promote the regional food system I want to see. I purchase seasonal, local food that was grown sustainably so that hardworking farmers – my neighbors and yours! – can make a living and be excellent environmental stewards. Local food also treads more lightly on the planet because unlike commercially-grown food at the grocery store, it didn’t travel hundreds or thousands of miles packed on a truck before being sold. I’ve noticed that usually means it tastes a lot better, too.

Finally, farmers markets promote health and well-being by making local food easy to find and afford. Since childhood we’ve been taught the importance of a balanced diet for our health, but food can also contribute to our emotional wellness. Food is often part of celebrations, traditions, or connection with others, and eating a variety of delicious food makes us happier! While we know we should incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables into every plate, we also recognize that food access can be a barrier. Personally, I know that I’m more likely to choose fresh produce over alternatives when it is frictionless to do so. And when everyone can fill their fridges and pantries with the dignity of choice, our community is more just and we’re all better off.

At LEAP, our mission is rooted in the farmers, vendors, and customers who sell and shop at our markets—places where all are welcome. We hope you’ll visit us soon at the Grandin Village Farmers Market (1319 Grandin Ave. SW), where main season hours are Saturdays, April-October, from 8 a.m. to noon or the West End Farmers Market adjacent to the LEAP Hub on Patterson Avenue, on Tuesdays from 3-6 p.m. For more information about our markets and other food access programs, you can visit our website at leapforlocalfood.org or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

-Ashley Dugan, LEAP's Finance Administrator