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 until January 25.
Bundy Heirloom Farm has fresh produce including brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, murasaki sweet potatoes, honeynuts, butternuts, acorns, spaghetti squash, and great apples including Pink Lady, Black Arkansas, Evercrisp, and Pippin. As well as our 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 5 spots left so stop by Saturday to get more info or visit our website.
Essential RVA Microgreens plans to be at market this Saturday, but the weather may have other plans. 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.
Emporia Rabbitry offers premium rabbit meat as well as whole prey, organs, and fur. Additionally, we provide quality pasture raised chicken eggs. A recent addition to our quality line of products are our pure Vanilla Extract and premium vanilla powder. Please visit our website to conveniently pre-order online and pick up at the next farmer’s market.
JJ’s Seafood will have seafood from the Northern Neck and Atlantic coast, plus sauces and more.
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!
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 weekend just in time for the Christmas holiday. Pick up your favorite artisan miniature cheesecakes. Available flavors this weekend include eggnog, pumpkin, blueberry, raspberry, red velvet, chocolate, banana pudding, tiramisu, and classic vanilla. You can also pick up your last-minute stocking stuffer treats, including glitzy lollipops and cocoa bombs. See you at the market!
RVA Bakehouse has started baking king cakes! Flavors include cinnamon, pecan, chocolate, and cream cheese. The Bakehouse will have their full lineup of sourdough flavors, specialty breads, rolls, and all of their sweets including cinnamon rolls, scones, and cheddar biscuits. Pre-orders are encouraged for your favorites. 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.
JIMBONE Dry Rubs is ready to meet your culinary and gift-giving needs, now that the snow is melting and the water is running! It’s not too soon to think about your Super Bowl menu. Look for them inside on the first and third Saturdays.
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.
One Hive Farm has local honey and soy-wax candles in a variety of lovely scents.
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 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.
“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.
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, including the holidays!
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!
Laura Heyward creates beautiful, hand-drawn cards, prints, and calendars.
Lovely To Look At jewelry features fruits of the earth and sea. Earrings, bracelets, and necklaces are all available. As usual, 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.
Blade City will be here to sharpen your knives and garden tools. Find Jason inside the building.
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.