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 having a raspberry renaissance. After weeks of relentless rain, their raspberries have come up swinging. They adore this mild weather and they’ve emerged strong, with their signature sweet-tangy balance fully restored. Stop by and stock up before first frost and our sad farewell to these ruby red gems.
Broadfork Farm has lost thousands of plants due to the excessive rain in September. You’ll see that reflected on their market table. They will harvest as much as possible for this Saturday’s market, and they hope to have their Certified Naturally Grown salad mix, head lettuce, rainbow chard, kale, microgreens, sweet Italian bullhorn peppers, bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, and basil. They will also 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, and baguettes, plus jars of cultured vegetables (sauerkrauts) from Gathered Threads Farm.
Broadfork Farm has lost thousands of plants due to the excessive rain in September. You’ll see that reflected on their market table. They will harvest as much as possible for this Saturday’s market, and they hope to have their Certified Naturally Grown salad mix, head lettuce, rainbow chard, kale, microgreens, sweet Italian bullhorn peppers, bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, and basil. They will also 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, and baguettes, plus jars of cultured vegetables (sauerkrauts) from Gathered Threads Farm.
Bundy Heirloom Farm will have fresh winter squash, pumpkins, decorative gourds, white corn, green beans, heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, summer squash, onions, apples, sweet potatoes, and eggs. They will also have bagels, bread, pickles, jams, dressings, desserts, and so much more. They are now taking sign ups for the 2025 CSA, stop by to get more info or check out at www.bundyheirloomfarm.com. For any orders or questions email [email protected], see you Saturday!
Drumheller’s Orchard will have many varieties of apples grown in their orchard in Lovingston, VA, as well as doughnuts and apple cider!
Essential RVA Microgreens delivery is now available! Simply visit https://essentialrva.square.site (name change incoming, and we will update when it happens). For this month only, delivery is only $4.99 with a $20 minimum. Available all day during the week and select hours Saturday and Sunday. Yes, you can get the pesto there, too!
F.J. Medina and Sons Farm has a bounty of fruits and vegetables for you to enjoy.
G. Flores Produce has gorgeous produce and beautiful plants for your garden.
Haashrooms will be here with cultivated and foraged mushrooms and related products, such as coffees, teas, and salves.
Liberty Tree Farm will have sweet peppers, spicy peppers, butternut squash, assorted winter squashes, beets, radishes, red turnips, hakurei turnips, rainbow chard, lettuce, perpetual spinach, sorrel, dandelion greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, collards, kale, Asian greens mix, and herbs from their gardens. From the kitchen they will have dried herbs and seasonings, frozen roasted tomatoes, fire-roasted and smoked peppers and eggplant, and sweet basil pesto.
Life in Bloom RVA Farm will have beautiful bouquets of flowers at the market this week.
Prospect Hill Farm will be at the market with fall flower bouquets and everlasting flowers for winter. Be sure to sign up for 2025 CSA weekly flower share!
The Mayor will be away this week, returning November 2.
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 with delicious coffee cakes in several flavors, available in beautiful gift wrap.
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 returns to the market this week with your favorite miniature cheesecakes and artisan treats.
RVA Bakehouse has coffee cake again just in time for those cooler mornings this fall! The Bakehouse will have all of their sourdough flavors this week, as well as focaccia, specialty breads, rolls and sweets including things like cinnamon rolls, scones, muffins and cookies. Pre-orders are encouraged for all of your favorites as they do tend to sell out before the end of the market. Orders can be placed online or you can email [email protected].
Artann’s returns this weekend with hummus, tabbouleh, white and whole-wheat pita bread, and more.
Better Breakfast returns with ready-to-eat vegan and gluten-free breakfast foods, cooked right at the market!
Dogtown Lounge will have our usual menu of raw food and snacks for dogs and cats this week. For more info please visit our website here.
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.
My Empanada has appetizer trays for your family festivities. Pre-order now at (804) 203-3473 and pick them up at the market.
One Hive Farm will have local honey, whipped honey, and soy candles for you to enjoy.
One Hive Farm will be away this week, returning on August 17.
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.
Powhatan Chocolates will be here with his own locally produced chocolate!
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:
– Fisherman’s stew (gluten-free): based on the famous cioppino from San Francisco, this stew is packed with seafood, including wild-caught gulf shrimp, local blue crab, Prince Edward Island mussels, Chesapeake Bay clams, and scallops. The base is a tomato-seafood broth with carrots, vidalia onions, celery, and russet potatoes. $12/pint or $23/quart
– Mushroom and brie soup: the best seller that kicked off Adam’s business 8 years ago. This rich and decadent soup is made with crimini, button, shiitake, and oyster mushrooms combined with triple cream brie, mushroom stock, and more cream. Try it mixed with pasta or rice, ladled over chicken or steak, or in your holiday green bean casserole. $9/pint or $17/quart
– Sweet potato and apple bisque (vegan, gluten-free): sweet potatoes from North Carolina with apples from Virginia, plus apple cider, vidalia onions, homemade vegetable stock, and fall spices. $8/pint or $15/quart
“Unkol” Chuck’s Brunswick Stew has a fall and winter reminder for all Brunswick Stew customers: The official Brunswick Stew season has already begun, and lasts all the way through late April. Stock up while demand is a bit lower – Chuck typically has a waiting list from late September through all of April. ”Unkol” Chuck’s 100% chicken-breast-meat-only Brunswick Stew will be at the market this Saturday. Reserve your order by calling and leaving a voicemail or sending a text message 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.
Simply Vettore will have handmade soap, lotion, body oil, body butter, bath fizzies, bath salts, and lip balm. Custom orders available. Visit me at my website and on Instagram.
Wandering Cow Farm will have soaps, felted items, meat, and more at the market this weekend.
Charles City Woodworks will be here with beautiful cheeseboards and cutting boards, a lovely addition to your kitchen.
Classy Accessories has embroidered towels for all occasions. They made the perfect gift! You can also find a variety of baby items including burp cloths, bibs, baby swaddles, and lovies. You can also place a custom embroidery order on Saturday.
DK Designs will have her embroidered beanies as well as jewelry and stationery!
Lovely To Look At jewelry features fruits of the earth and sea. New arrivals include personalized bracelets and “charming” necklaces in plenty of time for the holidays. You’re welcome to bring your own jewelry to chat about repair, renovation, or redesign.
Shady Nook Alpacas sells beautiful scarves, hats, socks, teddy bears, and more, all made from soft alpaca fiber.
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.