Fresh food, local roots: Reston Farmers Market brings community together

by Ellyn Wexler, Staff Writer

Reston Farmers Market opened for the season on April 26. Photo by Isadora Guerreiro.

Every Saturday morning, from April 26 through Thanksgiving, the Reston Farmers Market transforms Lake Anne Plaza into a vibrant celebration of local food and community spirit. Now in its 28th season, the market is part of the Fairfax County Park Authority’s 10-market system—one of the largest and most awarded in the region.

What makes Reston’s market unique? Ask anyone involved and you’ll hear a common theme: community.

“We’ve created something that’s more than just a place to shop,” says Fran Lovaas, Co-Market Manager and longtime volunteer. “It feels like a weekly reunion. Many of our vendors have been with us since the very beginning, and customers have become like family.”

Fran and her husband John launched the market in 1998 after returning from El Salvador, where they had been stationed with USAID. Inspired by the fresh food culture abroad and the need to revitalize Lake Anne, John—trained by the Park Authority—established the market with just a dozen vendors. It has since grown to 35, all carefully vetted and located within a 125-mile radius. Fran joined the managing team full-time in 2002, and today works alongside fellow co-managers Keith and Anne Strange, and Ben Miller, plus a team of trained volunteers.

Managing a market of this size is no small feat. The volunteer-run market features not only fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, meats, breads, and flowers, but also pop-up musicians, Master Gardeners, composting services, cooking demos, and a robust SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] matching initiative in partnership with Cornerstones and Fairfax County.

Fairfax County Farmers Market Coordinator Caroline Hockenberry, now in her fourth season and the first full-time market manager for the county system, helps organize logistics, vendor applications, and community programs for the 10 county markets. "The Reston group is one of the most experienced and passionate teams I work with," she says. “They know their community and work hard to serve it.”

Photo by Isadora Guerreiro.

The market's SNAP matching program is especially impactful. Shoppers using food assistance benefits can receive up to $40 in free produce per visit thanks to partners like Virginia Fresh Match and local nonprofits. And every last Saturday of the month from May through October, customers are encouraged to purchase and donate fresh items to Cornerstones through the Nourish Your Neighbor food drive.

Longtime vendors like Potomac Vegetable Farms’ Michael Bradford and 78 Acres' Mary Harsh say it’s the people who keep them coming back year after year. “Some of our customers have watched me grow up,” says Bradford, who has worked the stand since he was 12. “It’s like having an extended family.”

“We love Reston. Our customers are loyal, the other vendors are like friends, and the market itself is so well-run and welcoming,” Harsh said. “There’s really nothing else quite like it.”

The market’s commitment to sustainability is another point of pride. This year, Reston Farmers Market goes fully plastic-free, offering compostable produce bags and distributing free canvas shopping totes to customers, another effort supported by Fairfax County.

So, whether you're stocking up on summer tomatoes, enjoying live music by the lake, or catching up with neighbors and farmers who feel more like friends, the Reston Farmers Market offers something truly special.

Learn more by visiting the Reston Farmers Market website www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/farmersmarkets/reston or by following the “Reston Farmers Market Group” on Facebook.