Good news: Bristow still has an opportunity to be known as the home of Virginia's favorite farmers. American Farmlands Trust's America's Favorite Farmers Market contest has been extended to Sept 3, meaning there is still time for you to vote for your local Bristow market.
Ultimately market-goers gets to decide on their preferred market, but we asked Smart Markets founder Jean Janssen about why she chose to promote her "Bristow Smart Markets" in this national contest.
Bristow Beat: Why do you think that people should vote for Smart Markets Bristow in the American Farmlands’ America’s Favorite Farmers Market contest?
Jean Janssen: We hope that Bristow residents will see this contest as an opportunity to express pride in their community - a community that would attract and support a farmers market that guarantees the local provenance of its vendors and that works hard to recruit and support local home-based food businesses. We were welcomed with open arms and much hard work went into saving this market when we were forced to vacate our previous premises. We would like to return the favor and see this market get some state-wide and national recognition. Placing high in the voting will bring attention not just to the market, but to the community that voted.
BB: What makes this particular market unique?
JJ: Our mission is somewhat broader and more ambitious than that of most markets - we want to be a part of the community; we want to work with the community in a variety of ways to educate families and their children about bringing cooking and healthy meals back into the home kitchen. And as far as I know, we are the only farmers market operating on public school property in the state - certainly in all of Northern Virginia. And we do contribute a share of our sales to the Piney Branch Elementary PTO in return for their support.
BB: Of all the Smart Market locations you run, why are you promoting the Bristow location in this contest?
JJ: I wanted to highlight the unique situation mentioned above - and hopefully to encourage more school systems to view our relationship with Piney Branch as a viable and valuable partnership.
BB: What makes an ideal farmers market in your opinion?
JJ: A good balance and variety of vendors from across our growing area of four states (which expands our growing season); culturally diverse prepared food and vendors; top-notch quality; sustainable and certified organic growers (whenever possible) and a great market spirit where the vendors are all working together for the good of the market.
BB: You've been in several locations in and around Bristow now. Have you gotten to the point where your attendance is the busiest its been in any location?
JJ: We were very busy at our previous location and the site could no longer contain us safely, but at Piney Branch we are fast approaching our previous numbers and look forward to reaching them when our families return from vacation. We had nearly 2000 people on our mailing list before moving to Piney Branch, but we have already added another 300 in the past two months.
BB: What makes the Piney Branch location ideal?
JJ: Visibility, expandability, and a great staff and PTSO to welcome us as a market and support us as a teaching tool for the community.
BB: What else do you have going at the market?
JJ: (We had) decided to postpone our Cows and Corn activities (scheduled for last weekend, until this weekend)- the demo and the Cow Train from Cows-N-Corn farm would not have been successful in the rain. But the voting for the contest does not end until September 3rd so we have two more Sundays to rally the troops. We are welcoming a new vendor this week, Fossil Rock Farm, and next week we will bring in B&D Poultry Farms. Trickling Springs Dairy products will also arrive at the market with Mike Burner of Holly Brook Farm on Labor Day weekend. In mid September, Doug Linton and his Angelic Beef will return early for the winter market.
Smart Markets Bristow is now in fifth place out of all the farmers markets in Virginia. With your help, we can bring that number up to number one, and also help Bristow Smart Markets be recognized as one of the top twenty favorite mid-sized markets in the country. Vote here!
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