ALDI IS COMING TO RICHMOND!

Discount grocer ALDI is coming soon to Richmond!
On APRIL 23, 2015 two stores are opening:
1776 N. Parham Road in Henrico Co. &
465 Charles H. Dimmock Parkway in Colonial Heights .
Aldi signed leases and/or submitted plans for other stores in the Richmond area at:

the Staples Mill Square shopping center in Henrico (near the Kroger Marketplace ). This store should open this fall;

Hanover Village shopping center on Mechanicsville Turnpike at Lee Davis Road in eastern Hanover, which also should open this fall;

1.3 acres at 927 Myers St. (a former Bill’s Barbecue site) just off the Boulevard near West Broad Street in Richmond; (prospective opening unknown)

the 7300 block of Forest Hill Avenue in South Richmond; &

the intersection of Robious Road and Mall Drive in Chesterfield Co..(prospective opening unknown)
A store is also opening in Waynesboro, VA this spring.
UPDATE: The two Aldi's stores are now open for business!
The link below goes to a RTD article with photos of the new Henrico store:
http://www.richmond.com/business/local/article_6cffad8e-22c6-5da4-8ecc-938ef1af7328.html

A BIT FURTHER AFIELD

Tomorrow I am going to go to the Williamsburg/Yorktown area. While in Williamsburg, I am going to check out the Williamsburg Farmer's Market .
Like many such markets, it is seasonal and held on Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.
I heard about this market on Travelscope, a wonderful, friendly little travel program featuring traveler Joseph Rosendo. It's on PBS,  (non-cable Channel 57 or 23-2) .

SOME MORE FARMERS/FARM MARKETS

Market Umbrella is an organization dedicated to bringing European style markets featuring fresh local food and wares from artisans to Richmond.

Their current markets are:

Market Emporium @ Bryan Park
Lakeside Ave and I-95, exit 80
TUESDAY'S from 3 - 7 pm
May - December

South of the James Market @ Forest Hill Park
Forest Hill Ave & 42nd Street
SATURDAY'S from 8 am - 1 pm
May - December

Market Umbrella 1st Fridays @ Quirk Gallery
311 W. Broad Street
1st FRIDAY of each month from 6 - 10 pm
Year Round

Country Market

Sometimes a short drive or day trip can yield some great finds:
Last Saturday afternoon, I went to the Country Food & Furniture Market on Midlothian Turnpike (US Route 60) in Flat Rock, VA. Flat Rock is between Midlothian and Powhatan, VA on Route 60.
The market is in a small strip shopping center, Powhatan Station, with a gas station, Henry's Texaco, on the south side of Midlothian Turnpike.This Mennonite run market features a deli that serves homemade sandwiches, salads and soups and a grocery that sells country-style cheeses, meats, Yoder Dairy milk, pastries, candies, various mixes and flours and herbs, spices and other seasonings. They sell homemade Whoopie Pies, which are the Pennsylvania Dutch version of the venerable southern Moon-Pie.
I bought some old-fashioned pop-it-yourself blue popcorn. It tastes so much better than the microwave stuff!The food is very fresh and is reasonably priced. As the store is Mennonite-run, it sells no alcohol and is never open on Sundays or Christian holidays.
A shop next door sells Mennonite hand-crafted furniture and crafts.
PHONE: 804-794-4454

'TisThe Season for Local Produce !

It's almost summer & it's time for local produce!
Buying local produce is good for the local economy, usually good for your pocketbook & is a greener option than buying stuff shipped from another area. Fresh produce is yummy & a great addition to your healthy diet. Frugal, green, tasty & healthy; what's not to like?
During the colder seasons, most of these places close down except to sell Halloween & Thanksgiving pumpkins & Christmas trees.
I'm listing many, but not all local options for local produce.
I've shopped at all these markets & wouldn't hesitate to recommend them!

17th Street Farmers Market in Shockoe Bottom:
100 N. 17th St.
Richmond, Virginia 23219
804-646-0310
Thursday, May 3, 2007 through Sunday, October 28, 2007
Thursday Growers’ & Bakers’ Market: 8:30am–2pm
Saturday Growers’ & Bakers’ Market: 8:30am–2pm
Sunday Open Heirloom Market: 8:30am–2pm
Antiques, vintage & collectibles

Ashland Farmers Market:
On Duncan Street behind Town Hall (off Rt.54)
Saturdays May 5 - November 24
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

William Byrd House Community Market:
S. Linden St & Idlewood Ave ·
Downtown Expressway, I-195 South · Exit 186 (Belvidere St) ·
Next to Grace Arents Community Garden
Free Parking - Rain or Shine.
Tuesday,3:30 to 7 pm, May through October.

Goochland Rural Market:
Grace Episcopal Church -
2955 River Rd W, Goochland, VA
(Rt.6 or Patterson Ave./River Rd. extended)
Saturday May 5th through Sept. 1st - 8 a.m. to12 p.m.
Labor Day through October 27th - 9:00am to 1:00pm

Pole Green Produce Stand
Local produce & plants at very reasonable prices!
6547 Pole Green Road (Meadowbrook Road extended), Mechanicsville, VA 23111
804-730-7732
Open April through Thanksgiving
(Weekends only April, October & November - Daily May-September)

Hanover Plant & Vegetable Farm
Local produce & plants at very reasonable prices! Has a large greenhouse.
13580 Ashland Rd
Ashland, VA 23005
804-752-2334

Jim & Robins Produce
Local produce & plants for decent prices in Henrico County
11120 Patterson Ave. Richmond, VA 23233
804-754-0484

Cheryl's Produce
Local produce & plants for decent prices
Rt 660 & Route 33(Staples Mill Rd.extended), Ashland,VA
804- 752-5846

Produce cart on Libbie Avenue just off Patterson Avenue:
During season a vendor sells fruit & vegetables at this location.
Hours: ?

Some links to listings of Virginia produce markets, wineries, pick-your-own-produce farms & food festivals:
http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/vagrown/index.shtml
http://www.virginiawines.org/wineries/index.html
http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/organic/index.shtml
www.vdacs.virginia.gov/vagrown-july/pdf/frmsmkts.pdf
http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/news/festival.shtml