The Grow List

Monticello will mark the 274th anniversary of Thomas Jefferson’s birth with a celebration and ceremony on the West Lawn with a pre-ceremony performance beginning at 9:45 a.m., featuring a keynote address by Chef Alice Waters, the 2017 recipient of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medal in Citizen Leadership. 

It’s officially Farmers Market season, y’all! Going to your local farmers market is so much more than just getting groceries. Farmers Markets are a community experience that celebrates the bounty of the land we call home, and boy, does Virginia have some bounty! We’ve made a list of our favorite farmers markets in each region of the state. So, check out the list, find your region, and get to it, foodies!

Not much says fall quite like a crisp bite of fresh apple—or maybe a swig of small-batch apple cider, or perhaps an apple cider donut. Virginia’s a darn good place to seek out these flavors, given the Commonwealth ranks as the sixth-largest apple producer in the U.S. ‘Tis the season to spotlight the awesomeness of Virginia apples: Let’s roll up our sleeves and get to it.

Eating local has never been so easy, especially when Virginia is full of great farmers’ markets. We’re giving you the lowdown on peak season at Virginia farmers’ markets, with a handy cheat sheet to download and use!

This fully loaded local sandwich is bursting with local flavor – with everything from local chicken to pork belly, most ingredients in this sandwich can be found form just about any farmer in Southwest Virginia. If you just can’t wait to make this sammy yourself, pop into Heartwood in Abingdon while this is on their summer lunch menu. 

There’s no reason to put up with grease bombs and cheap carbs when what you really want is a good meal fast. Here are some of our favorite spots in Virginia, you can get a quick grab without sacrificing flavor or quality.