The United States may be the land of plenty in many ways, but for one in six Americans, hunger is a reality.

Farmers’ markets—both retail and wholesale—are booming in Virginia.

Farmers and farmers’ market customers have known for years that buying local foods builds relationships and boosts local economies.

Interest in local foods has increased over the years in Virginia, and so have the avenues that farmers can use to distribute their products.

School nutrition directors across Virginia have been actively seeking out more locally produced foods to serve students. 

Virginia has at least 40 winter farmers’ markets, twice as many as it had in 2010, according to findings of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In the middle of a cold winter, it’s difficult to imagine eating fresh summer produce. But if you want to enjoy a bounty of fruits and vegetables as a member of a community-supported agriculture system, or CSA, now’s the time to sign up.

Homeowners who want to learn more about beautifying their property also will have an opportunity to purchase locally grown food and other Virginia food products at the inaugural Virginia Home and Garden Show Jan. 14-16 at the Farm Bureau Center at The Meadow Event Park.

More than 1,040 new farmers’ markets have been recorded across the country, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Virginia farmers have helped contribute more than 1 million pounds of fresh produce to regional food banks this year.

Young farmers across the commonwealth have been helping feed hungry Virginians by working with local food banks. See more on the Virginia Farm Bureau ...

The local food trend has taken root at 31st Street Baptist Church.

Locally-grown and organic foods are popular among consumers, but farmers and policy experts warn it isn’t wise to dismantle the modern agriculture production system. 

Virginia had more winning markets than any other state in American Farmland Trust’s "America’s Favorite Farmers’ Market" contest this year.

Fall is a perfect time to visit to a farm, and Virginia has plenty of great places to enjoy the fruits of the season. 

Local foods, school lunch programs, hunger problems and the future of American food policy are continuing topics of discussion in our society. A new coalition of farmers and ranchers is seeking to bring players in today’s food policy debate to a "big table" and start a national movement to steer the conversation in a positive direction.

There are about 200 farmers’ markets in Virginia. While most are seasonal, a few are able to stay open all year long. The biggest challenge doesn’t appear to be a lack of customers, but a shortage of permanent structures to house the markets.

There are about 200 farmers’ markets in Virginia. While most are seasonal, a few are able to stay open all year long. The biggest challenge doesn’t appear to be a lack of customers, but a shortage of permanent structures to house the markets.

According to recently released survey findings of a Tennessee-based advertising and marketing agency, American consumers shop more often for food with labels that read "natural," "organic" or "grown in the USA."

Shoppers at farmers’ markets enjoy the freshness, taste and quality—and simplicity—of local produce and meats straight from the farm. But farmers can’t feed a growing world population using small-farm technology from a previous century.

Beets can be a delicious summer side dish, as well as a colorful addition to an otherwise green salad.

A food desert is not a new geography term; it’s an apt description of areas where low-income consumers either cannot afford healthy, nutritious food or don’t have affordable transportation to that food.

Farmers’ market managers say late spring is the time for a variety of fresh produce to fly off the shelves, including green onions, lettuce and greens.

Unbeknownst to shoppers, some vendors at a Northern Virginia farmers’ market have been re-selling produce that is not locally grown.

A recent forum on strengthening Virginia’s food systems didn’t yield a solution, but participants moved a step closer to forming a comprehensive plan.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced April 26 that its child nutrition programs are implementing new rules designed to encourage use of local farm products in school meals.

According to The Food Network’s top food trends for 2011, fresh, local and seasonal foods are still of interest to consumers.

If he could make a New Year’s resolution for Virginians in general, the executive chef at Virginia’s Executive Mansion has one in mind.

In the middle of a cold winter, it’s difficult to imagine eating fresh summer produce. But if you want to enjoy a bounty of fruits and vegetables as a member of a community-supported agriculture system, or CSA, now’s the time to sign up.

Homeowners who want to learn more about beautifying their property also will have an opportunity to purchase locally grown food and other Virginia food products at the inaugural Virginia Home and Garden Show Jan. 14-16 at the Farm Bureau Center at The Meadow Event Park.

Give a gift to your community when buying presents for the holidays. "The significance of buying food and other products from local producers like myself is vastly under-calculated," said Mike Clark, co-owner of Clark Farms in Nottoway County, which produces grass-fed beef under the brand name Greenway Beef.

For holiday gift-giving, you might not need to look any farther than Virginia specialty products. From peanuts and hams to jellies and jams, there are lots of gift-worthy Virginia foods out there. And some farmers rely on seasonal sales.

The growth of the local foods movement has taken parts of Virginia by storm, and one area of high demand is Charlottesville.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. recently announced a program intended to put more locally grown food in its U.S. stores; invest in training and infrastructure for small and medium-size farmers, particularly in emerging markets; and measure how efficiently large suppliers grow and move their products.

Just because it’s October doesn’t mean farmers’ markets are closing up shop in Virginia. In fact, many of them operate year-round as more and more consumers search for locally-grown foods.

Eight Virginia farmers’ markets recently were named among the top in the country. Two were ranked first in their size categories.

From elementary schools to colleges, Virginia school food service directors are purchasing and serving locally grown foods to their students.

Apples, cucumbers, eggplant, beans, herbs, peaches, peppers, squash, sweet corn, tomatoes and watermelons are all in abundance right now. And so are farmers’ markets.

The sales of specialty food products in the United States topped $63 billion in 2008, and with a little innovation farmers can turn their products into those hot-selling items.

The American Farmland Trust has kicked off its second annual America’s Favorite Farmers Markets contest at farmland.org/vote.

Virginia consumers have been buying fresh, local produce and meats for years, and now they want fresh seafood as well.

It’s pretty easy to shop for safe, fresh and local foods for a summer cookout at a farmers’ market. But what about at a grocery store?

Buying local food continues to be a major consumer trend. In the June edition of Down Home Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s monthly television program, viewers will learn why it’s so important to keep a local agriculture economy thriving. They’ll also learn why Virginia farmers are pushing Congress to repeal or reform the federal estate tax, and they’ll get a look at a rare livestock breeds program in Colonial Williamsburg.

Growing produce is often the easy part; it’s knowing how and where to market the fruits of your labor that can be difficult.

As farmers gear up for the next growing season, state agriculture department officials are urging anyone involved in community-supported agriculture, farmers’ markets or agritourism events to list their products and events on the updated virginiagrown.com Web site.

Like everything else, food trends for the coming year will be influenced by the economy.In 2009 more people were cooking at home instead of dining out. While consumers still might be cost-conscious about their food choices, they’re likely to be paying more attention to where foods are produced and by whom, according to chef John Maxwell.

While the supply of locally grown foods might shrink in the winter, there are still opportunities to buy products right from the farm. And winter is the best time to research and sign up for locally grown foods in the next growing season.