Warm weather is finally here! With springtime renewal comes the return of many options for purchasing fresh, local produce, meats, honey and more from area farmers. When you purchase food from farmers markets, not only are you getting fresher, better-quality whole foods, but you’re putting money back into our communities by supporting local businesses. Here are some options for fresh food shopping in Haymarket, Gainesville, Bristow and Manassas, Virginia.

Haymarket Farmers Market – This market runs on Saturdays from April through October. You can purchase local fruits, veggies, fresh flowers, bedding plants and decorative items. The market is located in the Town Hall parking lot at 15000 Washington Street. All vendors sell only Virginia grown products, so you can rest assured your money is going back into the local community.

Haymarket Thursday Afternoon Market – Every Thursday from May through October, you can find this farmers market open from 2:30-6:30 p.m. They have tons of fresh produce, meats, honey, baked goods and more. The market is located at 16015 John Marshal Hwy in Broad Run, VA.

Gainesville Farmers Market – Every Thursday from 2 until 6 p.m., from May through September, you can shop this seasonal farmers market. It is located at 13550 Heathcote Blvd., Gainesville, VA.

Smart Market – Located in Bristow, VA, Smart Market is open year-round on Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. They have a wide variety of local vendors who provide the community with fresh produce, meats, baked goods and more. Some of their vendors include Granted! Artisanal Bakery, Great Harvest Bread Company, Heritage Kettle Corn, Holly Brook Farm Meats and Dairy, Ignacio’s Produce, Little Green Farm, Real Country Sausage, Sweet Nuna, Tyson Farms and Orchards and Warhorse BBQ. This market is located at 8301 Linton Hall Rd., Bristow, VA.

City of Manassas Farmers Market – This farmers market was voted one of the best by Prince William Living Magazine. Starting in April, the farmers market is open on Thursdays in Harris Pavilion in Historic Downtown Manassas. Saturdays the market is located in parking lot B behind the Harris Pavilion from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Here at Jacobson Realty and Home Staging, we love our local farmers markets, not just for the health and economic benefits, but for the community aspect. When you go to a farmers market, you can meet the folks who actually produce your food. You get to talk to neighbors, as well as people you might not have met before. You get a sense of what is happening in the area. And of course, you get to enjoy the great outdoors with people who appreciate some of the things you do.

If you would like more information about our community, contact Jacobson Realty and Home Staging. We’d love to talk to you about this place we call home!