Dale City, Va. –– With the smell of fresh-popped kettle corn wafting in the air, some 18 vendors began the 2011 season of the Dale City Farmer’s Market.
Small stands and trucks lined up in the commuter parking lot behind Center Plaza on Dale Boulevard selling a little bit of everything. Spring vegetables, homemade mixes, baked goods, cheese, soap, and plants were available, along with sorbet, honey, pickles, and flowers. Several people had stepped up onto a refrigerated truck to select local grass-fed beef from mounted freezers.
Woodbridge locals Carly and her little sister Bree came with their mother, who said their family likes the market so much they anxiously await the opening of the following year’s farmer’s market in November, when the current year’s market closes or the season “My favorite is the flowers”, said Carly.
While many of the vendors come back year after year Michele Hirata was enjoying her first day.
“It’s been crazy,” said Hirata, the owner of Crepes de Pouce Gras.
Hirata opened the business to support her non-profit organization, Fat Thumb, which provides hand-knit beanies free of charge to chemotherapy patients.
“I was featured in the USAA magazine last year, and I’ve had more orders than I can keep up with. This was a creative way to keep filling orders free of charge”.
The Dale City Farmer’s Market is a Prince William County Park Authority activity, and runs from April through November each Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Kristina Schnack Kotlus is PotomacLocal.com’s Style and Events producer and lives with her family in Woodbridge.
