“Everybody has such a unique story and it’s just great that anybody can have an idea and decide that they want to be a farmer or a coffee roaster, a chocolate maker or an artist.” Sarah Golibart-Gorman, marketing strategist, Harrisonburg Farmers Market

The Harrisonburg Farmers Market began unofficially in the early 1950s under a parking deck and officially incorporated in 1975. After more than 30 years and countless community fundraisers, the Farmer’s Market finally found a home under the pavilion where it lives today behind City Hall. Vendors emphasizes community engagement operating year-round with adjusted hours in the winter when they sell quality, local sourced, low-carbon products, and uniqueness, focusing on fresh produce, meats, cheeses and eggs. 

Sarah Golibart-Gorman has been the marketing strategist for the Harrisonburg Farmers Market for three years. As the strategist, Golibart-Gorman is in charge of running the social media, website and events for the market. She works closely with the vendors, carefully selecting which ones can partake in the market.

RYAN’S FRUIT MARKET

Patrick Ryan, the owner of Ryan’s Fruit Market, said his business has been in the family for nine generations and family members have been selling produce at the Harrisonburg Farmer’s Market since the market opened.

Ryan’s Fruit Market sells peaches and apples, along with sweet and sour cherries, In addition, the market sells mint, onions, peppers, tomatoes, and potatoes. One goal Ryan has for his business is to keep it in the family, and continue it onto the next generation with his daughter if she is willing. Ryan hopes to continue sharing his products with the community. 

“I want to continue to grow fruit and food for the community,” Ryan said noting that the family has been farming in the Shenandoah Valley since 1780.

ABUNDANT LIFE KITCHEN

Kate Hinderer runs a vegan and gluten-free booth at the Harrisonburg Farmers Market — Abundant Life Kitchen — where she sells desserts and snacks. Hinderer has been running Abundant Life for three years. She started off selling vegan products only until customers requested gluten-free items. Now she makes both.

Hinderer said, “The business started out vegan because I was on a vegan diet, and I wanted to share that with the community.”

BRUCE’S SYRUPS AND CANDIES

Bruce Folks, owner of Bruce’s Syrups and Candies in Harrisonburg, Virginia, took over his family business that has been in the family for five generations. Folks is dedicated to his work, he sells his product year round every Saturday. Bruce’s Syrups and Candies provide maple syrup, maple products, baked goods, and lollipops. Despite the variety of products Folks cannot choose a preferred item.

 “They are all my favorite,” Folks said.

LOW HILL GARDEN

Low Hill Garden is a farm run by Tim Cupp and his wife. 

“This is our first season in production, we started selling in April,” Cupp said.

Cupp was working as a teacher until the COVID-19 pandemic hit when he realized he no longer enjoyed teaching. Inspired by his previous farming experience in North Carolina, Cupp moved back to his hometown of Harrisonburg and leased farm land from his parents.

Emphasizing the importance of being healthy, Cupp aims to produce healthy foods without any harsh chemicals. 

“It’s really important for our health and how we live,” Cupp said. “Producing foods that don’t have harsh chemicals or use synthetic chemicals is important for not only myself, but for the next generations.”

THISTLE HILL PET TREATS

Jennifer Wiatrowski, the owner of Thistle Hill Pet Treats, has been passionately developing dog treats and accessories for four years. 

“I’ve always loved farmers markets. I grew up with them, and I always wondered why people can get fresh produce and good quality stuff but there wasn’t anything for dogs,” Wiatrowski said. 

After moving to Virginia three years ago, she realized she had access to fresh, local produce and began making batches of pet treats. In addition to treats, she handcrafts accessories for dogs like bandanas, bow ties, magnets and keychains. 

“When you go to the pet store and buy dog treats, you don’t really know what’s in them. My treats are all fresh food, humans can eat it too,” Waitrowski said.

HOME AGAIN FARMS

Rose Shank created her business, Home Again Farms, in 2021 after returning from Ethiopia where Shank and her husband, Bruce Buckwalter, worked for an international relief and development organization. Home Again Farms raises humanely-raised meats including chicken, pork and goat, and quail and chicken eggs to sell to local markets and the community.

 “Our values are to treat our animals the best we can. We try to give them a pain-free and respectable life,” Shank said.

JERRY’S GOURMET BERRIES & FERMENTS

Jerry Fields has been running his fermentation business for more than 10 years after retiring from aerospace research. He started Jerry’s Gourmet Berries & Ferments after finding that fermented food consumption correlates with health benefits. 

“The process of fermentation begins with introducing good bacteria into the solution, and the bacteria processes the carbohydrates and vegetables into lactic acid,” Fields said. 

Fermented foods can improve a person’s health due to the presence of healthy bacteria in the product. Fields found a connection between the consumption of fermented foods and a lower mortality risk. 

“Every gram of fermented food you eat each day decreases your mortality risk by 39%,” Fields said.

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