Reston Farmers Market Returns Saturday

Market Master John Lovaas will ring the old Inca cow bell at 8  a.m. on Saturday, announcing to the community that the Reston Farmers Market at Lake Anne Plaza is open for the season.

Lovaas says the 2014 market has come a long way since it began in 1998 with 12 vendors.

This season, there will be 28 vendors at Lake Anne — featuring everything from seasonal produce to naturally-raised meats to fresh baked goods and speciality items such as Colonial Kettle Corn and Fresh Crunch Pickles.

The Farmers Market, under the direction of Fairfax County, will also take Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits this year. The county received two grants to support expansion of SNAP’s at-market benefits program, formerly known as food stamps. The 2014 grants will allow for an expanded program that  will make farmers markets more accessible to low-income families shopping for fresh, locally produced food, says Fairfax County.

Expansion of the program was made possible through partnerships with Cornerstones, Arcadia, INOVA and the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services, says Fairfax County.

The farmers market will be open Saturdays through November (except for Sept. 28), 8 a.m. to noon.

The farmers market is located in the parking lot of Lake Anne Plaza. Nearby on the market is the Reston Market, where local crafters and artisans sell their wares. The craft market is sponsored by the Friends of Lake Anne.