Press Release

For Immediate Release: April 23, 2025

Candice Hayes
Special Events Coordinator
Culpeper Renaissance, Inc.
540-825-4416
crievents@culpeperdowntown.com
www.culpeperdowntown.com

Saturday Mornings Abuzz with the Return of the Culpeper Downtown Farmers Market!

Culpeper, VA. The Culpeper Downtown Farmers Market returns Saturday, May 3rd! Look forward to browsing more local vendors than ever at the longest running and most successful Farmers Market in the area! With its roots dating back to the 1950s, the Culpeper Farmers Market was started by Raymond Kite at the agricultural enterprise; however, by the early 90’s, the Market made its way to Downtown. Now in 2025, the Culpeper Downtown Farmers Market continues to grow each and every season, serving as a main stay of Saturday morning commerce and community activity.

Charged with overseeing the Market, nonprofit Main Street program Culpeper Renaissance, Inc. (CRI), invites you to explore, shop, and connect with a vast array of vendors, including farmers, growers, bakers, and craft artisans every Saturday at this open-air Market. Each week look forward to discovering the finest in-season products ranging from meats to mushrooms, honey to hydrangeas, breakfast biscuits to bath bombs, plus Farmers Market essentials, like eggs, dog treats, hot sauce, jam, bread, hard cider and more. Enjoy family friendly fun, while soaking in a community atmosphere. Find the Market in operation every Saturday morning, rain or shine, May through October, 7:30am to 12pm at 318 S. West Street (Culpeper Baptist Church parking lot). 

When asked his thoughts about the upcoming Market season, Jeff Clark of Double L Farm and Apiary, who also serves as the 2025 Culpeper Downtown Farmers Market Committee Chairman called to mind a quote from George Washington, "Agriculture is the most healthful, most useful and most noble employment of man." He added, “An idea that I think is shared by many in the Culpeper community. The farmers and artisans of the Culpeper Downtown Farmers Market are looking forward to the 2025 season. It is a blessing to be part of a community that not only supports local producers, but understands why it is so important to do so.” This year’s full time vendors include Baire’s Choice Mushrooms, Barajas Produce, The Brit Stop Bakery, C&T Produce, Cedar Hill Woodworking, Cider Lab, Double L Farm & Apiary, Fair Winds Farms/Wandering Bees Apiary, Great Harvest Bread Co., Green Barn Bakery, Gringo Mama Salsa, Hock Newberry Farm, Little Cottage Collective, Loving Paws Big & Small, Mandi’s Dandies, MM Coffee Farm, Moving Meadows Farm, Native Shire, Persimmons Hollow Farm, Piedmont Farm & Greenhouse, Pietra Metalli & Hoot Owl Hollar Farm, Son of a Bear Ciders & Teaghlaigh Vineyard, Sunshine Acres Farm, Toad Blossom Farm, Too Hot to Candle, Uncle Andy’s, Whispering Willow Farm, Willowlyn Farms Produce and Workers Produce Cooperative. Part time vendors, present on select Saturdays, include 2B-Q, 9 Ann’s Flower Farm, Azalea Field Flowers, Bloom & Berry, Burns Family Homestead, Candle-Lit-Farm & Landscaping, Cookie Corner by Randi, Culpeper Garden Club, Flowers & Floof, Homestyle Sweets, Loaves by Linds, Mars Makes Pottery, Rapidan River Master Gardeners, Robert’s Hot Sauce, Sweet Dove Crochet & Co., Union Hill Farm and Wild Yeast Baking Company. 

In addition to over 45 vendors, the Culpeper Downtown Farmers Market offers unique and exciting children’s programs and special events! The I’m SOW Healthy Youth Nutrition Education program was created over 10 years ago with the help of Ms. Georgette Mosley, Senior Nutrition Education Facilitator with the Virginia Cooperative Extension Family Nutrition Program (FNP). Since its inception, the I’m SOW Healthy Youth Nutrition program has become a resource sought by many children and families each week and includes interactive, live cooking demonstrations the second Saturday of the month, as well as Farmers Market Activity Packs. This season’s I’m SOW Healthy theme is ‘I Spy’, with each month centered around a fruit or vegetable highlighted in the monthly cooking demo and activity pack. The live monthly cooking demos showcase seasonal, healthy, kid-friendly recipes staring nutrient packed ingredients like lettuce, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, corn and carrots! Additionally, every Saturday, children can pick up Farmers Market Activity Packs, which include a monthly recipe, an activity sheet, and $5 Farm Fresh Dollars. Farm Fresh Dollars can be spent at the Market all season long, on food or food producing plants. Farmers Market Activity Packs can be claimed once a month by children ages 2 to 13 at the green Market Information Tent! 

Did you know SNAP recipients can double their spending power at the Market? Visit the Culpeper Downtown Farmers Market every Saturday and shop fresh produce, meats, and other grocery staples, while connecting with area farmers and growers! You can afford to know where your food comes from, while fueling yourself and family with healthy, locally grown ingredients. Stop by the green Market Information Tent to swipe your EBT card for up to $30. Then receive double the amount in tokens to spend at the Market! That means you can swipe your card for up to $30 and receive up to $60 Market tokens! SNAP matching is available all season long, or until funds are exhausted. 

Culpeper Renaissance, Inc. and the Culpeper Downtown Farmers Market are beyond grateful this year’s Market programs will benefit from an increase in funding thanks to the PATH Foundation. It is through their tremendous generosity, along with other instrumental community partners, that CRI can continue producing quality programs that are not only community driven but fun and educational! Thank you to PATH Foundation, Kid Central with Culpeper Human Services, Virginia Cooperative Extension-Culpeper Unit, Rappahannock Rapidan Regional Commission, the Culpeper Baptist Church and the Town of Culpeper. 

Jennifer Hoehna, CRI’s Board of Director’s President states, “Our farmers and small vendors pour their time, care and expertise into everything they offer…, and by shopping local, we strengthen our local economy, show appreciation for [the] dedication of our growers and makers, and keep our community vibrant and thriving.” Celebrate opening day of the Culpeper Downtown Farmers Market Saturday, May 3rd, with friendly, familiar faces, joyous sounds of commerce and live music, not to mention the abundance of quality products from local vendors! Opening day festivities include Danny’s Bounce House (7:30am-12pm), Sandy’s Face Painting (9am-12pm), and live music by Joshua Luongo (9am-11:30am). Learn more about the Culpeper Downtown Farmers Market, its many vendors, the I’m SOW Healthy Youth Nutrition Education program, SNAP matching, special Market events and more by visiting www.culpeperdowntown.com/events/farmers-market/ . Be sure to like and follow the Culpeper Downtown Farmers Market on Facebook and Instagram. Questions? Email crievents@culpeperdowntown.com.