Market Mania in Richmond

Remember the days when the 17th Street Farmer's Market had the monopoly on local produce -- except for those Hanover truck farms that supplied the Ukrop's stores with more squash and zucchini than you could shake a cucumber at?

Those days are over, friends. As Central Virginia finally moves into its spring growing season, local markets are cropping up almost as fast as community weblogs. There are a half-dozen markets serving the Richmond area -- and grocers like Ellwood-Thompson's and Ukrop's have bolstered their local offerings. And it's not just markets. Community gardens are sprouting like weeds, too.

It's a great time to be a vegetable lover in Richmond. Here are a few details on the markets:

South of the James Market: This new market kicks off this Saturday, May 3, at the end of New Kent Avenue and 42nd Street (Forest Hill Park's Shelter 2). The South of the James Market will be open from 8 a.m. until 12 noon. It will be managed by the same folks who made the Byrd House Market in Oregon Hill such a roaring success. More than a dozen vendors will sell their vegetables and handcrafted goods, including Amy Hicks of Amy's Garden. Victory Farms will sell at the market, and use the market as a drop-off for their CSA members in the area.

Byrd House Market: The Byrd House Market officially kicks off its second season in Oregon Hill this Tuesday, May 6. The BHM will operate through the spring and summer behind the William Byrd Community Center (corner of Idlewood Avenue and Cherry Street) every Tuesday from 3:30 until 7:00 p.m. The market will have plants; fresh cut flowers from Perennial Pleasures Pharm; vegetables from Amy's Garden and Victory Farms (selling and CSA pick-up); eggs and chicken from CCL; meats from Faith Farms; and Bread for the People -- among others.

Lakeside Market: There aren't too many details out there on this new market, which will be located on Lakeside Avenue just south of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Their season starts this Saturday, May 3, and the market says it will sell local and Virginia made vegetables and goods. Discover Lakeside and North Richmond News are good resources when updates are available.

17th Street Farmer's Market: The grandfather of local markets has transitioned from being a truck market to being a genuine destination with a variety of events each week. Thursdays and Saturdays are the big market days.

Goochland Farmer's Market: Every Saturday from May 3 through October 25, Goochland area residents can head to this market (now in its fourth year) at Grace Episcopal Church on River Road West in Goochland (Route 6).