Farmers Market @ St. Stephen’s
St. Stephen’s Church hosts a year-round farmers market every Saturday.
The entire community is invited!
About the Market
Seasonal hours
8 a.m.-noon, May through September
9 a.m.-noon, October through April
Seasonal produce, eggs, poultry, meats, and flowers from local farms, local seafood, products such as bread, cheese, pasta, and other foods from local sources are available. In addition, the market features local artisans (jewelry, clothing, wooden toys, etc.), coffee, and much more. The Farmers Market @ St. Stephen’s is a self-supporting ministry of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.
The market is open for on-site sales, and many vendors also accept pre-orders and/or offer CSA shares.
Vendors accept SNAP and Virginia Fresh Match.
The Café @ St. Stephen’s and the May Fair House are open during the market.
Leashed, well-trained dogs are permitted at the market.
Why a farmers market at a church?
The Farmers Market @ St. Stephen’s seeks to connect our choices about the foods we buy and eat to our call to be stewards of God’s creation, as we build community and support local farmers.
The market’s goals include:
- connecting God’s call to environmental stewardship to the foods we eat, stewardship of resources, and reducing the carbon footprint of what we eat;
- building community by providing the city of Richmond and our local neighborhood with a healthy way to gather and connect with each other on a regular basis;
- educating patrons with practical ways to maintain the connection with the sources of their food; and
- helping fill the growing demand for fresh, locally grown and prepared foods in Richmond.
Patrons love our market because they can speak directly to the people who grow and produce their food, learning what methods and practices the farmer or producer uses, and getting tips about how to prepare the produce, eggs, meat, poultry and other goodies they find here. Many customers remark on the size of the market: it’s big enough to have what they need, but it’s not overwhelming. Free parking is available. Children are welcome.
Vendors at this Saturday’s Market
The list of vendors for the coming week is updated on Wednesday afternoons.
Check out this handy chart to see what produce is in season.
Agriberry Farm is gearing up for the holiday season with a large array of fresh apples, chestnuts, and cider. We hope you celebrate with us!
Broadfork Farm will be away this week, returning February 15.
Bundy Heirloom Farm has fresh produce including sweet potatoes, murasaki sweet potatoes, butternuts, acorns, spaghetti squash, and great apples including Pink Lady, Black Arkansas, Evercrisp, and Pippin. They also have prepared foods like braised collard greens, kale, pimento cheese, spinach dip, sourdough bagels, sourdough garlic-rosemary focaccia, citrus vinaigrette, and a wide array of pickles and jams. We are taking sign ups for our 2025 CSA, which are going fast. We are down to 2 spots left so stop by Saturday to get more info or visit our website.
Essential RVA Microgreens plans to be at market this Saturday with fresh microgreens. You can not only preorder online to pick up at market, but you can also enjoy free delivery and our best prices via our website Monday through Friday (and some Sundays).
G. Flores Produce will have plenty of delicious vegetables this week.
Haashrooms will be here with cultivated and foraged mushrooms and related products, such as coffees, teas, and salves.
Liberty Tree Farm will have lettuce, spinach, chard, tuscan kale, dandelion greens, turnips, daikons, radishes, kohlrabi, sunchokes, and limited numbers or beets and carrots from their gardens. From the kitchen they will have roasted tomatoes and eggplant, a variety of pestos, fire-roasted and smoked peppers, braised greens, and dried herbs and pepper flakes.
Life in Bloom RVA Farm will be here beautiful winter blooms.
The Mayor is happy to return for 2025 with breakfast sandwiches and delicious sausage offerings.
Old Way Farm, located in King William County, Virginia raises 100% grass fed lamb, pastured raised chicken and turkey and pasture and forest raised Berkshire pork. Their poultry and pigs are given a non-GMO Project certified feed that exceeds organic feed standard in regards to residual herbicides and pesticides. Check out their website to pre-order for next week’s market and learn more about their farming practices.
Snyder Family Farm is your source for naturally pasture-raised grass fed beef, silvopasture pork, and eggs. Try our mouth-watering steaks and pork chops for the grill or sausage, bacon, and eggs for breakfast. For added convenience and faster service at the market, you can pre-order online. We look forward to serving you this weekend!
Cakes by Jen returns just in time for Valentine’s Day with coffee cakes in full-size bundt and mini “bundtalette” sizes. They come in many flavors, from cinnamon to chocolate. Ask for a sample!
Europa Crust is a sourdough bread bakery located in downtown Richmond since 2021. We bake only bread using a 2-day, probiotic sourdough process with simple, natural ingredients. Our breads are more rustic and less processed than what you’ll find in a store. We make bread the way it was made centuries ago and it tastes like what real bread should taste like. And don’t let “sourdough” confuse you. It’s a process and doesn’t mean all our breads have a sour taste! Our Japanese Milk Rolls and Nissu Sweet Bread (a Finnish cardamom bread) are great examples of a sweeter bread. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions HERE and browse our web site.
Geescakes will return to the market on Saturday, February 8th just in time for the upcoming Valentine’s holiday. Geescakes will have a variety of miniature cheesecakes and other artisan treats for sale. Stop by the pink Geescakes tent to pick up sweets for your sweets. See you at the market.
RVA Bakehouse will bring some Valentine’s favorites this week! The Bakehouse will have chocolate covered strawberries, Valentine’s fudge and sugar cookies. Pre-orders are encouraged especially for your favorite flavors of sourdough as these items sell out quickly! You can email orders to [email protected] or order online.
Virginia Bread Company will be at the market for the first time this weekend with croissants and other delicious pastries.
Artann’s returns this weekend with hummus, tabbouleh, white and whole-wheat pita bread, and more.
Better Breakfast will serve freshly grilled vegan breakfasts on Saturday morning!
Blue Bee Cider will be at the market with apple ciders made right here in town.
Dogtown Lounge will be here with locally-made treats for dogs and cats. For more info please visit their website.
Leek & Thistle will have all your easy-to-heat entrees, soups and appetizers. To ensure availability and to reserve your gazpacho or Normandy chicken salad, please place an order at this link.
Oro will be at the market with small-batch, fresh, artisan pasta and delicious sauces.
Owl Spoon Water Kefir will have gut-healthy and delicious water kefir in many flavors, from ginger to hibiscus to cherry, at the market this weekend.
Penny’s Imperfect Pizza is back this week with frozen pizzas as well as some fresh produce!
Powhatan Chocolates will be at the market with delicious, locally-made chocolates. They’ll make a perfect gift for a loved one or yourself.
SoulSmith Kombucha is the only manufacturer of red ginseng kombucha in Richmond. They also make traditional Korean fermented food with kombucha such as kimchi, kimchi sauce, pickled pink ginger and pickled yellow ginger. Kombucha is known as ‘’The Elixir of Life.’’ Kombucha drinks have offered great health benefits beyond the physical level for thousands of years. SoulSmith makes deliciously refreshing and reenergizing Kombucha drinks with many great flavors. Please check out their website here. If you would like to preorder, please call or text at (804) 405-6501.
SouperChef G will have three delicious soups this week:
–Fisherman’s stew: this delicious stew is inspired by one of Adam’s favorite seafood dishes from San Francisco, cioppino. Made with wild caught gulf shrimp, fresh blue crab, PEI mussels, Chesapeake Bay clams and scallops, all simmered in a seafood broth, with roma tomatoes, carrots, celery, vidalia onions, and russet potatoes. $12/pint or $23/quart
– Texas “bowl o’ red chili” (gluten-free, frozen): left from the week that the snow closed the market, now frozen and on sale! This chili is made with tender chuck roast, five types of sweet and hot roasted peppers, vidalia onions, roma tomatoes, beef stock, and chili spices (medium heat). $8/pint or $16/quart
– Mushroom and brie soup: the soup that started Adam’s business and a bestseller. Oyster, button, crimini, and shiitake mushrooms are combined with triple cream brie, butter, flour, cream, and a homemade mushroom stock. This soup can also be used as a sauce on pasta, rice, or potatoes; ladled over steak or chicken, or in a next-level holiday green bean casserole. $10/pint or $18/quart
“Unkol” Chuck’s Brunswick Stew has a fall and winter reminder for all Brunswick Stew customers: the official Brunswick stew season is well underway, and lasts all the way through late April. Stock up by reserving your order ahead, as Chuck typically has a waiting list from early September through April. Reserve your order by call or text to (434) 532-6658, or by emailing [email protected]. ”Unkol” Chuck’s Brunswick Stew is cooked in a 100-year-old, 55 gallon, cast-iron cauldron in Brunswick County, Virginia by a Brunswick County native.
Wigglebutts sells non-meat pet treats including peanut butter treats and sweet potato jerky.
Wandering Cow Farm will be here with handmade soaps, felted ornaments and other items made with wool from their farm, and meat.
Classy Accessories sells embroidered hand towels perfect for any occasion. She will also have a variety of embroidered baby items including lovies, burp cloths, swaddles, and fidgets. Ask about custom embroidery too!
Dawn with DK Designs will have a great variety of handmade items with her. Some new necklaces and earrings and a selection of her notecards. She will have a few hand-embroidered beanies including some youth sizes for the very first time! There are always surprises to be found at her booth!
Lovely To Look At jewelry features fruits of the earth and sea. All earrings and bracelets will be deeply discounted this Saturday to help celebrate Valentine’s Day. Bring your own jewelry to chat about repair, restoration or redesign.
Shady Nook Alpacas sells beautiful scarves, hats, socks, teddy bears, and more, all made from soft alpaca fiber.
Simply Vettore sells soaps, bath fizzies, laundry detergent, and more.
Fresh, local food for all
SNAP and Virginia Fresh Match
Our market vendors are able to accept SNAP benefits as payment for eligible items. If you or a friend receive SNAP benefits, simply bring your EBT card to the welcome tent and our volunteers will help you exchange funds for tokens to spend at the market. You’ll also be able to receive matching funds from Virginia Fresh Match. For every dollar of your SNAP benefits you spend at the market, you’ll get another dollar from VFM absolutely free to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables. For example, if you spend $10 of your own SNAP benefits, you’ll receive another $10 for produce.
Most food items that are intended for home consumption can be purchase with SNAP benefits. These include:
- fresh fruits and vegetables
- meat, eggs, and seafood
- bread, cakes, and cookies
- soups and casseroles to heat and eat at home
- kombucha and water kefir
- olive oil and honey
- food-producing plants for your garden (tomato plant, lettuce plant, herbs, etc.)
These items cannot be purchased with SNAP:
- non-food items (jewelry, pottery, soap, etc.)
- hot foods (empanadas, breakfast sandwiches, etc.)
- cups of coffee
- ornamental plants (flowers, etc.)
Market staff, volunteers, and vendors can answer any questions.
Gleaning
In addition to selling their products to market customers, many market vendors donate their unsold produce, eggs, and other foods to St. Stephen’s for distribution through our Monday food pantry. Market volunteers visit produce and food vendors during the last half-hour of each market day and gather items the vendors wish to donate. They take the items into the parish house for refrigeration (if needed) and sorting. The next day, our pantry visitors have the opportunity to enjoy these items along with the shelf-stable canned, boxed, and bagged foods on our shelves.
Information for Vendors
The outdoor season is Saturday, April 6-Saturday, November 23, 2024. Hours are 9 a.m.-noon in April, 8 a.m.-noon May-September, and 9 a.m.-noon in October-November.
All additional information, including fees, needed paperwork, rules, etc. is listed in our rules and regulations, linked below. Please read the rules and regulations carefully before you apply.
We strongly encourage applicants to visit the market before applying. Contact market manager Anna Jones with any questions.
The winter season will be Saturday, November 30, 2024-Saturday, March 29, 2025. Hours will be 9 a.m.-noon. The application for winter is now open, and the application can be accessed here.
The application for the 2024 Christkindlmarket is also open. This holiday craft fair will be on Wednesday, December 4, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Christkindlmarket focuses on local artisans, so painters, ceramicists, candle makers, knitters, jewelers, etc. etc. are invited to apply. The application is available here.
Additional Opportunities
Volunteer at the Market
We’d love to have you! You may work one shift or more than one; you may work one Saturday a month, every week, or anything in between.
We will train you! This is a great way to meet people, to support the market, and get to know our wonderful vendors.