The VA Foodie Guide to Eating Fresh in the Winter

We’re knee-deep in the season of cookies, casseroles, and all things carb-y. We’re definitely fans of holiday feasting, but we love veggies too. One of the downsides of winter is that eating fresh this time of year is so HARD. We know the struggle is real, and like all things, balance is key. So munch on those Santa cookies and drink that hot cocoa, but be sure to eat some greens from time to time, too. From growing a cold-tolerant garden and visiting year-round farmers markets, to canning veggies and drinking cold-pressed juice, here are a few ways to make sure you get your vitamins when the weather outside is frightful:

Cold Weather Veggie Goodness

Virginia is blessed with warm(ish) winter weather compared to the rest of the country and that means a lot of veggies do well in winter plots. Many home gardeners prep their gardens for winter by adding hoop tunnels or building greenhouses. Here are some veggies that do well in winter, perfect for holiday snacking and soup-making:

• Collard Greens

• Kale

• Leeks

• Sweet Potatoes

• Turnips

• Chard

• Winter Cabbage

• Brussels Sprouts

• Spinach

• Parsnips

• Broccoli

• Cauliflower

• Winter Lettuce

• Carrots

• Arugula

Year-Round Farmers Markets

Don’t have a green thumb? Don’t sweat it! Just pop by your local year-round farmers market. Virginia Farmers are churning out the good stuff year-round, but we’ve found that tons of people don’t know some farmers markets are still open in the winter months. You can even get your Christmas tree from a winter farmers market! So in the spirit of holiday generosity, we asked our followers about their fave year-round market, and they delivered! Check out what they had to say:

• Adam’s Apples & Herbs Farm Stand (Woodstock)

• Cascade Farmers Market (Sterling)

• Holiday City Market (Charlottesville)

• Dale City Farmers Market (Dale City)

• Freight Station Market (Winchester)

• Harrisonburg Farmers Market (Harrisonburg)

• Leesburg Farmers Market (Leesburg)

• Mount Airy Farm Market (Boyce)

• Nalls Produce (Alexandria)

• Old Town Farmers Market (Alexandria)

• One Loudoun Farmers Market (Ashburn)

• Roanoke City Market (Roanoke)

• School Hill Garden (Unison)

• Shen-Val Farm Market (White Post)

• South of the James (Richmond)

• St. Stephen’s Market (Richmond)

• Virginia Beach Farmers Market (Virginia Beach)

• West Oaks Farm Market (Winchester)

• Winchester Spring Valley Farm Market (Winchester)

Canned, Fermented, Pickled, and Cold-Pressed Veggies

Feeling crafty? Canning, pickling, and fermenting are great ways to keep that veggie goodness rolling all year long. Want to start but don’t know jack? The USDA has a free Complete Guide to Home Canning PDF, but at a whopping 193 pages, it might be a little dense for the beginner. Many of the farmers markets listed above have tons of canned and fermented goods available which should hold you over while you study up. There are also tons of workshops and classes at markets around the state, just check your local event listings (or sign up for our newsletter, we comb the event listings so you don’t have to).

Juicing is another great way to get those vitamins, especially cold-pressed. Cold-pressed juices are typically made from 100% fruits and vegetables without any added ingredients. Which means they’re delicious and nutritious. Check out this list of Virginia companies that sell vitamin-packed juices, making it easier to be healthy during the winter months:

• Farmstead Ferments (Charlottesville)

• Greenheart Juice Shop (Locations in Leesburg, Aldie, Middleburg or order online)

• Ginger Juice Co (Richmond)

• JRINK Juicery (Locations in DC and NoVa)

• Fruitive (Locations in DC, Norfolk, and VA Beach) ((Their new winter menu is 🔥))

Whew! Eating your vitamins during the winter is definitely still hard, but hopefully, this post will help point you in the right direction. Growing a winter garden, visiting a year-round market, and drinking up some cold-pressed juice are all great ways to fight the effects of carbo-loading of the winter holidays. After all, you’re allowed to eat extra pie when you get your daily veggies in, right? Right?