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, outdoors only.
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 will have a great spread of apples at market, sold by the pound, half peck, or peck. Our varieties currently are: Crimson Crisp – Firm and tart. Evercrisp – Crisp, rich and sweet. Fuji – Bright, firm, and sweet/tart. Granny Smith – Classic tart apple. Gold Rush – Rich and mellow sweet. Honey Crisp – Juicy sweet and crisp. Pink Lady – Firm and sweet with a bit of tartness. Our full line of jams and preserves, delectable oat bars made with agriblend jam, local honey, blackberry syrup, raspberry and blackberry blush applesauce, and classically made apple butter round out our winter item offerings. Charlie and Dave look forward to seeing you out at market! Our 2025 CSA signs are live, with St. Stephens as a Wednesday pickup location too. Click here for more information.
Broadfork Farm will have their Certified Naturally Grown radishes, sweet turnips, spring onions, spinach, microgreens, sugar snap pea shoots, celery (Broadfork celery is very different than what’s available in the grocery store!), Swiss chard, tender Siberian kale, parsley, cilantro. They will have plants for your garden that are ready for spring planting: kale, cabbage, broccoli, spinach, red lettuce, green lettuce, cilantro, dill, oregano, peppermint, spearmint, lavender, thyme, rosemary, strawberries, and organic fertilizers to help your soil grow the plants you love. They will have their naturally leavened bread made from all Certified Organic ingredients and baked in their wood fired oven, in the following varieties: Seed Loaf, Pumpernickel, Raisin & Cinnamon Loaf, Baguettes. Also: fermented vegetables from Gathered Threads Farm including Caraway Kraut, Simply Sauer(kraut), Curtido, Ukrainian Kraut, Napa Kimchi, and more.
Bundy Heirloom Farm has fresh produce including collards, sweet potatoes, and Pippin apples. They also have a variety of transplants and flowers, prepared foods like pimento cheese, spinach dip, sourdough bagels, sourdough garlic-rosemary focaccia, bagel chips, croutons, vinaigrettes, and a wide array of pickles and jams. Visit our website for any additional info or stop by and see us at the market.
Crumptown Farm will be back on April 26.
Essential RVA Microgreens reminds you that you can save time and money by ordering online. It’s also the only way to guarantee you can get any special requests outside our normal offerings of the Mix of the Week, and our most popular microgreen, broccoli. Options include: arugula, spicy mix, green pea, and more. Menu updated throughout the week.
F.J. Medina and Sons Farm
G Flores will be away this weekend, returning April 19.
Haashrooms will be here with cultivated and foraged mushrooms and related products, such as coffees, teas, and salves.
Liberty Tree Farmwill have lettuce mix, lettuce heads, pea greens, spinach, endive, escarole, baby rainbow chard, baby tuscan kale, kale, collards, mustards, mixed spring rabe, dandelion greens from their gardens. They will have potted daffodils and mixed bouquets from their perennial 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 with beautiful spring blooms.
Prospect Hill Flower Farm will have lots of ranunculus/Persian buttercup bunches, fancy daffodils, and mixed bouquets for Saturday.
The Mayor returns this week with breakfast sandwiches and many varieties of artisan sausages.
Old Way Farm, located in King William County, Virginia raises pastured 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 will be away this week, returning April 19.
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 be away this weekend, returning April 19.
RVA Bakehousewill have spring chocolate oat bars this weekend! The Bakehouse will also have all of their usual sourdough flavors, focaccia, challah and other specialty breads. The Bakehouse will bring their full line up of cinnamon rolls, scones, biscuits and other pastries. Be sure to pre-order your favorites for pickup at the market. Just put which market you would like to pick up your order with on the final check out page. Order online or email [email protected].
Virginia Bread Company will be at the market with croissants and other delicious pastries.
Artann’s will be here with many varieties of hummus, pita bread, and more!
Better Breakfast will be here, grilling delicious vegan breakfasts. Not vegan? Try them anyway, you might be surprised!
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.
Envee Salad Dressing (Spiders Inventions): the market enjoys getting to host University of Richmond business students each year, as they learn to start and run a small business. The students will sell the delicious salad dressing they developed March 22, March 29, and April 12.
Leek & Thistle is offering a special Easter menu, available to pre-order at the market on Saturday, or via this link. Items ordered will be ready for pick-up either in their store in Shockoe Bottom on Friday, April 18th or at the market on Saturday, 19th.
My Empanada, sells hot empanadas in sweet and savory varieties, a perfect snack while you shop.
One Hive Farm will be away this weekend, returning April 19.
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.
Namaste Munchies will be here for the first time with anti-inflammatory food including smoothies and snacks from both American and Indian cuisine.
Nifty! Nuttery will have roasted pecans in both sweet and savory varieties. Ask for a sample!
Penny’s Imperfect Pizza sells delicious frozen pizzas, made right on their farm with produce they grow themselves.
Powhatan Chocolates invites you to hop on over to the market for Easter treats! They’re excited to bring their handcrafted, old-fashioned chocolate Easter bunnies, each made with love and care, perfect for your spring celebrations. That’s not all! Their table will be brimming with irresistible delights, including decadent chocolate bonbons, whimsical chocolate bunny lollipops, chocolate-dipped glazed orange slices, and giant chocolate chip cookies baked with their own small-batch chocolate chips. As always, Powhatan Chocolates takes pride in their craft by creating 72% dark chocolate bars, made from carefully selected cocoa beans sourced from seven South American countries. They are honored to be the market’s only chocolatier, and their mission is to share the joy of exceptional chocolate with you, the wonderful community. See you there!
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 selections this week:
– Creamy Shrimp Chili: Yes, this chili includes shrimp and it recently won a chili cook-off! Packed with wild caught gulf shrimp, five types of roasted peppers (both sweet and hot), vidalia onions, shrimp stock, cream, and chili spices. $12/pint or $23/quart
– Texas “Bowl ‘O Red” Chili (gluten-free): there’s no beans about it (or in it) this hearty chili has a taste as big as the state of Texas! Made with tender chuck roast, five types of roasted peppers (sweet and hot), vidalia onions, roma tomatoes, a homemade beef stock, and chili spices. $11/pint or $20/quart
– Carrot, Apple, and Ginger Soup (vegan, gluten-free, frozen): Adam couldn’t leave out his vegan friends on his last week, so I’m offering this refreshing soup is on sale! $7/pint or $13/quart
“Unkol” Chuck’s Brunswick Stew has a reminder for all Brunswick Stew customers: the official Brunswick stew season 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 returns this week with non-meat dog treats, such as peanut butter cookies and sweet potato jerky.
Simply Vettore sells soaps, bath fizzies, laundry detergent, and more.
Wandering Cow Farm will be here with handmade soaps, felted ornaments and other items made with wool from their farm, and meat.
Charles City Woodworks will be at the market with hand-carved cutting boards. They make fantastic gifts for any occasion.
Classy Accessories will be at the market with embroidered items including decorative towels and baby blankets, perfect for you or a friend.
DK Designs will be away this weekend, returning April 19.
Lovely To Look At jewelry features fruits of the earth and sea. All purchases are repaired free of charge. You’re also encouraged to chat about redesign, renovation, or repair of your other jewelry.
Blade City returns next on April 19.
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.