Farmers Market at Ix, December 7, 2024

The Market Central Farmers Market at Ix will be open Dec. 7, 14, and 21, and reopen on Jan. 11, 2025.

With the holiday season upon us, we know you can’t stay home even if it is cold. We have a pretty good line-up, with a handful of cancellations due to both cold and illness. The germs are starting to get around— all the more reason to shop outside. The farms are hanging in, but with the latest deep freeze, many will be closing shop for winter. However, others are creatively adding value-added or new products. Is Pear returning at Whisper Hill?

Unfortunately our friends at Deep Roots Milling have been hit by the bug, as well as SFG Foods. JBird Coffee’s equipment is not meant for sub-freezing temps, but Frolic Coffee and Taiga Specialty Coffee will be open. Yay for coffee, especially at an outdoor market. Hot tea is provided by Philosopher’s Tea.

You’ll find a few new vendors, Very Berry Cherry Farm; Patient Sawyer (a veteran wood worker); Gooch Gardener Candles; and the return of many potters, jewelers, knitters and weavers, woodworkers, artists, and makers of wreaths and winter greenery decorations.

The complete vendor line-up can be found on the link : Dec. 7 market map

A special note: The resiliency and sustainability of our local markets is a key concern of Market Central. When the weather is overly hot, cold, windy or wet, we feel the urgency to address future improvements. We are currently working with the City, County and UVA through the Climate Resiliency Cohort to address resiliency to climate change, and through the VA Food Access Investment fund to expand food access and market opportunity. We will be inviting participation from the community for feedback and ideas in early 2025. If you are interested, or have some thoughts about needed improvements to local markets for the future, please let us know in the comments section below. We will post notices of events and meetings on our website and through newsletters and social media. Community participation is also welcome through feedback, or taking a position on the board. The board position is posted on Center for Nonprofit Excellence board postings.

Thanks as usual for being part of the local farms, food and arts system.