Old Beach Farmers Market

This was actually the first time I went to a Farmer’s Market!
I’m not sure of what I thought to expect when I went but it was a great day to go. My first stop was Edmont’s (sp?) farm, where I picked up some great Kale and Sweet Potatoes. I made my way over to a nice Lady at «Spread the Jam» she was delightful to talk to and offered great ways to use the jam I purchased; the best Mango Jam I think I ever had. Right next to her was Speedy’s Hot Sauce, I purchased all three flavors, Mango Habanero, and two others I can’t remember off bat. Just a great way to give back to the community and support local farmers, I can see myself doing this more in the future.

It had been a few years since we visited the OBFM, but we decided to go and check it out this past weekend. WOW what a difference. Its much larger now PLUS has a more diverse set of vendors which is nice. On our visit we saw products ranging from goat cheese, bread, and blue crabs, to eco products and succulent plants.
Its worth the trip on a nice summer morning.

Awesome little farmer’s market that has grown little by little through the years. We go there primarily for the amazing produce from Mattawoman Creek Farms (USDA certified organic and just fantastic offerings). Like Steven A. mentioned, Terrapin also has a booth (about 1 – 2 booths away from Mattawoman Creek) selling their sourdough, granola, mozzarella, etc. You can find anything there from produce to meats & seafood to soaps and flowers to baked goods. There’s quite a bunch jammed-​packed into the area (which is the Croc’s parking lot). There’s even a green fair that started which had overflowed into the street… temporarily shutting down traffic on that block during the farmer’s market’s limited hours.
It’s our favorite Saturday tradition to pick up some beautiful produce and then get our grub on at Beach Bully catty-​corner to market.

Great local finds, fresh produce at reasonable prices. happens every
local artist and produce

For me, the most convenient really great Farmer’s Market in Va Beach. During the summer months, it sets up every Saturday morning in the street and parking lot at Croc’s restaurant, corner of 19^th and Arctic — it takes me about 6 minutes to get there, and, sometimes, another 6 minutes to find a place to park. Not just a great assortment of the freshest local fruits and veggies (except, strangely, I haven’t noticed any figs this year), but usually also a selection of jams and jellies, spice blends, cheeses, fresh-​baked bread from Chef Rodney at Terrapin, and, very often, a smattering of hand-​made jewelry and other arts and crafts. In the non-​summer months the Market switches to only one Saturday a month, and becomes much more of an arts-​and-​crafts event, with some residual canned jams, fruits and veggies that were prepared from the previous summer’s harvests.
Since I’ve stopped growing my own white corn, the Old Beach Market has become my go-​to spot for that, plus an occasional variety of tomato I don’t grow, plus yellow squash, plus an occasional new cheese I haven’t tried, and ALWAYS a loaf of Chef Rodney’s sourdough. Just a nice spot to load up on fresh local produce, visit with an occasional friend, and mingle with some of the nicest farmers and restaurateurs in town.

This is a great little farmer’s market that operates out of the parking lot at Croc’s 19^th Street Bistro during the summer. You will be amazed at how much is on offer every week considering that it is in such a compact area.
My favorite stalls are Brownies and ‘Smore which is run by a fantastic lady who once worked as a pastry chef at some of the more high end kitchens in Hampton Roads. I always score «brownie» points (sorry for the pun) with my ladies at home when I come home with a PMS brownie or a caramel sea salt blondie. Decadent but oh so good.
The staff from Terrapin also run a stall where they sell their fresh sourdough bread along with homemade granola and fresh sorbets and ice creams. If you have ever eaten at Terrapin then you know the level of quality you can expect in these items.
Angelo Serpe and his wife from Pasta e-​Pani were there yesterday selling his fresh made pastas and sauces. This guy is a true stalwart and it is nice to see him still churning out the food that made him famous in Hampton Roads.
The folks from the Weeping Radish farm and microbrewery are always there offering free samples of their sausages. Be sure to ask for their fresh liverwurst. It is probably the best thing you can put on a piece of toast in the morning.
The produce vendor located in the corner of the L shaped parking lot always has an amazing array of fresh veggies. Be sure to ask what is coming in over the next few weeks. I find it helps in planning weekend menus. The May peas they were selling a few weeks ago were some of the best I have ever had.
Bring cash and a reusable carry bag since you will always buy more than you had planned.

Not nearly as big as the Princess Anne Farmers Market, the Old Beach Farmer’s Market still has what you’re looking for. There’s a good selection of goods, but it’s not so busy. Of course I’m not a farmer and am just now getting into vegetables, so I can’t really say that one market is better than the other. But Old Beach is definitely a place to shop especially when you’re disappointed by Wal-​mart, Food Lion or Farm Fresh’s produce section.

The description on the Old Beach Farmers’ Market website that calls it «quaint» is just about right.
It’s a small market, open only during the summer from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays in the parking lot of Croc’s restaurant – catty-​corner to the VB Convention Center.
Croc’s has been a leader in the environmental movement in the local food service industry. They were the first restaurant in the state to be certified green.
So it follows that a farmers market emphasizing local sustainable goods is a perfect fit.
Like I said, it’s small. But what is there is very good. There are a few produce providers. Then there are locally made treats, cookies, brownies and etc. There are couple of local seafood purveyors, some soaps, jams and sauces, bread, Virginia wines (a lot of times they have free tastings) and flowers.
One of my favorites is the meats from the Weeping Radish Farm and Brewery out of North Carolina. They sell this apple bratwurst that is so tender and mild (isn’t that a Christmas song?) that it makes me want to cry.
Downside of the market? There’s a pretty small time window that it’s open. If you miss it, you’re SOL.