Throughout Charlottesville and Central Virginia, there are a plethora of vibrant farmers markets and farmstands that make fresh, local meat and seasonal produce available, along with many different types of handcrafted products. At each one, families can expect to find friendly faces alongside all of the incredible bounty that Virginia’s farmers are producing.
Find your nearest farmers market or produce stand in our list below to make shopping fresh and local a regular part of your week!
AT A GLANCE
- Charlottesville and the surrounding counties have many farmers markets that host Virginia farmers, artisans, and other vendors.
- Popular farmers markets in Charlottesville include the City Market downtown and the Market at Ix Art Park, both on Saturday mornings, as well as Farmers in the Park on Wednesdays at Pen Park.
- Other Saturday farmers markets include the Albemarle Farmers Market at Hollymead, the Crozet Farmers Market, the Greene Farmers Market, and the Nelson Farmers Market Cooperative in Nellysford.
- There are also many farm stands in Albemarle County, including the Barracks Road Farm Market, Chiles Orchard, and Yoder’s Country Market in Madison.
Charlottesville Farmers Markets
1. Albemarle Farmers Market
This Charlottesville Market is open throughout spring and summer and even offers two holiday markets, one in November and one in December.
- Day of the week: Saturday
- Time of year: Early May – Mid-September
- Location: Hollymead Towncenter Plaza
- Types of products: Fresh produce, meats, baked goods, crafts
- Specialties: Local meats, artisanal cheeses, organic vegetables
- Specific farmers/vendors: An abundance of local farmers and artisans
- Logistics: Ample parking nearby; picnic areas available
2. Charlottesville City Market
The city’s oldest market runs each Saturday morning, spring through fall, to offer up local goods downtown on Water Street. There’s also a holiday market from late November into December until just before Christmas. The Charlottesville Farmers Market is an amazing, long-standing tradition so grab a hat, your shopping bags and come hungry!
- Day of the week: Saturday
- Time of year: April through November
- Location: Downtown Charlottesville
- Types of products: Organic produce, meats, eggs, flowers, crafts
- Specialties: Organic heirloom vegetables, artisanal breads
- Specific farmers/vendors: Local organic farmers and artisans
- Logistics: Street parking available; music and food trucks
3. Crozet Farmers Market
This downtown market features loads of local goods, and the vendor fees are used to support local food banks.
- Day of the week: Saturday
- Time of year: May through September
- Location: Behind the Blue Good Building in Crozet’s downtown
- Types of products: Fresh produce, meats, baked goods
- Specialties: Local wines, baked treats
- Specific farmers/vendors: Crozet-area growers and bakers
- Logistics: On-site parking; family-friendly activities
4. Earlysville Farmers Market
In the heart of Earlysville at Buck Mountain Episcopal Church, local makers sell their goods on Thursday evenings, making it easy to stock up for the weekend.
- Day of the week: Thursday
- Time of year: Spring through fall
- Location: 4133 Earlysville Road, Earlysville
- Types of products: Seasonal fruits, vegetables, breads, meats, crafts
- Specialties: Handcrafted jewelry, organic vegetables
- Specific farmers/vendors: Earlysville-area artisans and farmers
- Logistics: Parking available; small-town charm
Many farmers markets and farmstands feature seasonal events and festivals throughout the year, particularly during the summer and around the holiday season. Visit our Family Events Calendar to find special events at a market near you!
5. Eastern Orange Farmers Market
This market in the eastern portion of Orange County offers lots of local goods and is a short, scenic drive from Charlottesville.
- Day of the week: Sunday
- Time of year: April – October
- Location: Locust Grove Town Center
- Types of products: Fresh produce, bread, plants
- Specialties: Herbs, heirloom plants, mushrooms, melons
- Specific farmers/vendors: Local growers
- Logistics: Ample parking; family-friendly atmosphere
“The biggest thing you can do is understand that every time you’re going to the grocery store, you’re voting with your dollars. Support your farmers’ market. Support local food. Really learn to cook.” – Alice Waters
6. Farmers in the Park
With a new location at Pen Park, this mid-week market offers shopping on Wednesdays in the late afternoon and evening.
- Day of the week: Wednesday
- Time of year: May through October
- Location: Pen Park, Charlottesville
- Types of products: Seasonal produce, baked goods, eggs, beverages, cut and potted flowers
- Specialties: Prepared meals
- Specific farmers/vendors: Local organic farmers and artisans
- Logistics and activities: Street parking available; community gathering; yoga
7. Greene Farmers Market
This market that operates all year features food from a number of local farms and offers an abundance of parking. The market opens at 8:00 am April through October and 9:00 am November through March.
- Day of the week: Saturday
- Time of year: Year-round
- Location: Greene Commons (behind the Greene County Office Building at 40 Celt Road)
- Types of products: Seasonal produce, local meats and eggs, crafts
- Specialties: Prepared food, coffee
- Specific farmers/vendors: Greene County growers and artisans
- Logistics: Ample parking; community-centered
8. The Market at Ix
This market in Downtown Charlottesville’s quirky art park delivers big on flavor and fashion. You can often find family-friendly events such as an arts & crafts table or costume contest. The Charlottesville farmer’s market has lots of parking and is an easy few blocks walk over to Charlrottesville’s Historic Downtown Mall.
- Day of the week: Saturday
- Time of year: May through October, holiday season
- Location: Ix Art Park, Charlottesville
- Types of products: Fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, prepared foods
- Specialties: Produce, cut flowers
- Specific farmers/vendors: Albemarle County
- Logistics: Parking available plus on nearby streets; artsy urban park setting
9. Madison Farmers Market
This market in rural Madison County showcases the goodness of the area’s growers and producers from spring to fall. It also offers two holiday market dates.
- Day of the week: Saturday
- Time of year: May through October
- Location: Hoover Ridge Park, Madison
- Types of products: Fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs
- Specialties: Produce, cut flowers
- Specific farmers/vendors: Madison-area farmers and florists
- Logistics: Parking available; scenic park setting
10. Nelson Farmers Market Cooperative
This decades-old farmers market offers up numerous locally made goods to the community to the backdrop of music from local performers.
- Day of the week: Saturday
- Time of year: May through October
- Location: 3079 Rockfish Valley Highway, Nellysford
- Types of products: Fresh produce, meats, eggs, coffee, kombucha, crafts
- Specialties: Baked goods, vegetables, meats, farmstead cheeses, jewelry
- Specific farmers/vendors: Nelson County growers and cheesemakers
- Logistics: Parking available; live music events
11. Orange Farmers Market
This weekly market in the town of Orange has small-town charm and plenty of locally produced goods to peruse on a Saturday morning.
- Day of the week: Saturday
- Time of year: May through October (with select closures in September)
- Location: Short Street in the town of Orange (beside the depot)
- Types of products: Fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, meat
- Specialties: Produce and meats
- Specific farmers/vendors: Orange-area farmers and food artisans
- Logistics: Parking available; family-friendly park setting
Did you know many area farmers markets accept EBT/SNAP as payment? Several also partner with Virginia Fresh Match to double SNAP purchases of local, fresh produce. Learn more at VirginiaFreshMatch.org.
12. Scottsville Farmers Market
This vibrant market in the heart of Scottsville is a rain-or-shine event that features all of the locally made goodness from the area.
- Day of the week: Saturday
- Time of year: April – October
- Location: Market Square Pavilion (next to Dorrier Park)
- Types of products: Seasonal produce, meats, crafts
- Specialties: Fresh herbs, handmade jewelry
- Specific farmers/vendors: Scottsville-area growers and artisans
- Logistics: Parking available; riverside charm
Farmstands and Produce Stands in Central Virginia
In addition to farmers’ markets, Central Virginia boasts numerous farmstands that offer direct-from-farm products right on their premises.
1. 5 Rider’s
Locally owned in Orange, this farm’s shop offers an abundance of goods right from their farm at their produce stand.
- Location: 3849 Twymans Mill Rd, Locust Dale, VA
- Types of products: Fresh fruits, meats, vegetables, eggs
- Specialties: Meats, produce
- Logistics: Parking available on-site; family-friendly atmosphere
2. Barracks Road Farm Market
A more recent addition to Charlottesville, this market is owned by the family that started Yoder’s over two decades ago. If you remember the modest produce stand on Thursdays at Foxfield you’ll be impressed by the full fledged farm shop you’ll experience today.
- Location: 2775 Barracks Rd, Charlottesville, VA
- Types of products: Fresh vegetables, baked goods, meats, eggs, plants
- Specialties: Homemade baked goods, seasonal produce
- Logistics: Parking available; open weekdays only
3. Chiles Orchard
This well-known spot is a go-to for local goodness. In addition to the farmstand, the orchard offers pick-your-own experiences.
- Location: Batesville
- Types of products: Fruit, vegetables, baked goods
- Specialties: Pick-your-own fruit, apple cider donuts
- Logistics: Ample parking; family-friendly orchard experience
4. Darnell’s Garden Patch
This shop right in the town of Orange offers fresh plants, an abundance of seasonal vegetables, plenty of packaged local goods like jams and sauce, and an array of crafts and decorative home goods.
- Location: Town of Orange
- Types of products: Fresh vegetables, fruits, flowers
- Specialties: Seasonal fruits and vegetables, plants
- Logistics: Ample parking; farm store with local crafts
5. Deer Run Produce
This popular spot features its own produce but also welcomes vendors like coffee roasters, food trucks, and purveyors of locally made ice cream.
- Location: 16780 Mountain Rd, Montpelier, VA
- Types of products: Seasonal fruits, vegetables, cheese
- Specialties: Meats, produce, ice cream, coffee
- Logistics: Parking available; scenic rural setting
6. Miller Farms Market
Get involved in a CSA with the market or just stop in for regionally produced cheeses, fruits and vegetables, coffee, eggs, or even a Christmas tree in season.
- Location: 12101 Orange Plank Rd, Locust Grove, VA
- Types of products: Seasonal produce, meats, and cheeses
- Specialties: Honey, pumpkins, turkeys, spices & seasonings
- Logistics: Ample parking; farm store with local goods; CSA available
7. Three Springs Farm
This 23-acre farm in Madison focuses on meats but also offers other goods that you can pick up or have shipped.
- Location: 3091 Orange Rd, Aroda, VA
- Types of products: Meats, spices, dairy
- Specialties: Beef, pork, lamb
- Logistics: Limited parking; scenic farm setting; local delivery available
8. Yoder’s Country Market Madison
This conveniently located market offers plenty of fresh produce and dairy along with baked treats and local meats like Kite’s Ham. Shoppers can even settle in for a hearty sandwich or soup from the in-store deli.
- Location: 2105 S Seminole Trail, Madison, VA
- Types of products: Produce, dairy, flowers, jams, meats, cheese, sandwiches
- Specialties: Baked goods, seasonal produce, Golden Guernsey milk, ice cream
- Logistics: Ample parking; rural farm stand vibe
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CHARLOTTESVILLE AREA FARMERS MARKETS
Do farmers markets in Charlottesville and Albemarle run year-round?
The Greene Farmers Market is the only farmers market near Charlottesville that is open all year. The other markets are generally open from spring to late fall, though some areas also host holiday markets in December. Many farm stands, however, are open year-round, though the items for sale will vary with the season.
Are any Charlottesville farmers markets open on Sunday?
The Eastern Orange Farmers Market is on Sundays from April to October. It is located at the Locust Grove Town Center.
What’s for sale at farmers markets in Charlottesville and Albemarle County?
Different markets feature different farmers and vendors. Most of them will have a mix of seasonal produce, eggs, herbs, and flowers, along with some meat and dairy. Many markets also have food trucks, as well as local vendors selling crafts, coffee, gifts, jewelry, soaps, baked goods, and prepared foods.
Charlottesville Farmers Market Adventures Await
Charlottesville’s farmers markets are more than just places to shop—they’re vibrant community hubs where families can connect with local growers, savor fresh flavors, and support sustainable, small-scale agriculture.
Whether you’re strolling through the bustling downtown market, exploring neighborhood farmstands, or planning a weekend adventure to one of the area’s countryside markets, each visit offers a chance to teach kids about where their food comes from while making memories together.
Looking for more local activities for the whole family? Explore adventures within driving distance from Charlottesville with our guides to summer events, fall festivals, and county fairs!
Stay inspired all season long by signing up for our free CharlottesvilleFamily e-Mag. And be sure to meet the wonderful partners and local businesses we feature.