Lynchburg Community Market recruits all-natural vendors

The Lynchburg Community Market is trying a fresh approach to get more produce downtown, more often.

Every Wednesday the market hosts vendors who sell produce and other items, like cheese and meats — all made ready for sale using natural methods.

The dozen vendors at the “Green Market Wednesdays” are not certified organic growers — though one vendor is on the verge of certification — but many say they use little or no chemical pesticides or fertilizers. They come from around the region and as far away as Halifax and Prince Edward counties.

It’s one of several changes in the Community Market as the managers have tried to answer customers’ requests to get produce downtown during the week.

People have taken notice. On Wednesdays this summer, small crowds buzz in the market from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., while farmers and gardeners sell everything from ripe tomatoes to fresh cheese.

“I’m trying to eat less out of the supermarket, and more out of the community market,” said Cathy Beeson, manager of the Lynchburg Visitors Information Center nearby the market.

She has made a habit of shopping at the market on her Wednesday lunch break.

“I’m a cancer survivor, so I’m trying to eat better and healthier,” Beeson said. “Anything I can eat without pesticides or chemicals — although I’m not sure that’s what caused it — I think it will make (the cancer) less likely to return.”

Betsy Grzybowski bought some tomatoes Wednesday that had been picked by the nonprofit Lynchburg Grows the day before. She usually shops at the market on Saturdays, and likes being able to stock up mid-week.

“You can’t always make it through the week with what you get on Saturday,” she said.

Grzybowski said she is glad to support local farmers. Also, she and a friend, Jay Kilby, feel motivated to eat food that has less impact on the environment.“We’re concerned about the amount of fossil fuel required to ship produce … to get to its ultimate destination in our kitchen,” Kilby said.

He pointed out that the local, naturally grown produce doesn’t always cost less, but it’s worth the extra cash. “I’ve bought something from almost everyone here,” he said, a bag of vegetables slung over his shoulder.

Growers use a variety of methods to raise produce without chemicals. Some use organic pesticides. Others practice “bioscaping” — planting flowers that attract helpful insects to eat harmful bugs.

“It’s almost like an art,” said Lucy Mallinak of Post Oak Produce in Bedford County. “You’re creating and maintaining an ecosystem.”

One vendor at the community market has organic certification within reach.

Wendy and Craig Darling bought Full Circle Farm in Halifax County about two years ago. They then started the organic certification process.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s organic certification requires daily journals logging compost temperatures and insect observations among other things, said Wendy Darling.

She said the farm is at the end of the certification process, with some minor paperwork requirements left.

Darling said she’s having more success at the Lynchburg market than at a market in South Boston where she sold last year. In fact, on some days she runs out of things to sell. She plans to plant more on the farm next year.

“We just didn’t expect it to be this good,” she said.

The Lynchburg Community Market conducted research last year with help from Liberty University to determine how todraw more customers, said Janet Campbell, the market’s manager.

She said customers — including people who live and work downtown — asked for local produce during the week.

Ralph King, the former owner of a local grocery chain, opened a grocery in the market several days a week earlier this year, but he left to run a barbecue restaurant, Campbell said.

Then the market started the Green Market Wednesdays about a month ago.

“It’s a matter of responding to your community … and taking action,” Campbell said. “They will help you be successful if you’re responding to their needs. They will reward you with their presence and their dollar.”

Laura Ruffin-Skrypek, of Colonial Botanicals in Evington, carries her daughter, Emily, while selling naturally grown flowers, products and gifts.
CHET WHITE/THE NEWS & ADVANCE

There's more than just produce at the market

The Green Market Wednesdays at the Lynchburg Community Market include a lot more than fruits and vegetables.

Sleepy Goat Farm, located just over the North Carolina line near Danville, sells fresh goat cheese.

Carol Lee Stock, an employee of the farm, said the cheese has no hormones, dyes or antibiotics.

The cheeses come in a variety of flavors, including chocolate (lightly sweetened with honey), feta, and California Five Pepper.

Faith Farm in Green Bay (Prince Edward County) sells hormone- and antibiotic-free beef and sausage at the market on Saturdays, and came for its first Wednesday this week. Brenda Lawler said she’ll be back with more in a few weeks.

Cliff Ambers, owner of Chateau Z Vineyard in Amherst County, has started selling wines on Wednesday. He said growing grapes in Virginia’s climate requires at least some chemical spraying. But for several years he’s worked on hybrid grapes that require less spraying.

He’s sprayed only five times this year, he said.

His goal is to find the right kind of hybrid grape that can resist molds and other problems on their own, so he won’t have to spray at all.

Several vendors sell baked goods made from organic and naturally grown products. Also, a pastured bison vendor comes on some weeks.