Center for Rural Culture

March 14, 2011

For Immediate Release

Goochland, VA — The Board of Directors of the Center for Rural Culture (CRC) regrets that there will be no Goochland Farmers Market in 2011.

Although the Vestry of Grace Episcopal Church has generously offered to renew the Market’s lease on the church property, the Board believes that the county cannot support two markets and that diluting the customer base is unfair to our vendors. Competition from other markets in the Richmond metro area and rising gas prices were factors in the decision.

The CRC is proud to have created and nurtured the Goochland Farmers Market for the past five years. This would not have been possible without the producers and artisans whose enthusiastic support and local products made the Goochland Farmers market such a wonderful enterprise. We appreciate their support and wish them continued success.  The farmers market concept is alive and well in the region.  This is a positive development for people who want to improve their eating habits and to make local agriculture on all scales economically viable.

The CRC will continue to be a source of information, education and advocacy for rural communities. We sponsor the Local Roots Food Co-op, an on-line buying opportunity for citizens to purchase local food throughout the year. To find out more about the co-op go to  localroots.luluslocalfood.com or call our Co-op Manager, Jane Conner, at 804-332-3144. The CRC is again planting a community garden to benefit the Goochland Food Bank and is looking for volunteers to help with this project. Beginning in June we will partner with Goochland Parks and Recreation to offer monthly canning classes. We welcome sponsors to help us deliver these programs to the community. These are just a few of the events the CRC is planning for the coming year. Stay tuned.