The Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture is launching a new farmers market at the Hybla Valley Community Center starting Saturday, April 29. The weekly event will feature produce, meat and eggs sourced from Virginia-based farms, including from Arcadia’s own Dogue and Hilltop Farms.
According to market manager Alinah Kargar, the mission of the new community market is focused on food justice and making healthy local foods more accessible to community members. Thanks to a grant, Arcadia will be offering payment assistance vouchers to those who need them. Customers can use a QR code (see image gallery below) to access the voucher application form or approach an Arcadia team member onsite at the market. Arcadia also will double customers’ SNAP benefits.
Some of the initial food products being offered at the market include “lots of greens” from Arcadia, said Kargar, as well as apples, tomatoes, mushrooms, meat and eggs. The eggs will be supplied by the five hens living in a mobile coop at Arcadia’s Hilltop Farm, located adjacent to the mansion at Woodlawn and Pope-Leighey House.
As the community market takes root and expands, Kargar envisions enabling backyard growers to sell their harvest as well. Interested individuals can contact her about securing a table, she said.
The Hybla Valley Farmers Market will take place every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the community center at 7950 Audubon Avenue in Alexandria. Depending on the harvest season, the market may go on well into the fall, said Kargar.
