Forest Lakes Farmers Market

Rooted in the agricultural tradition of Virginia, Forest Lakes Farmers Market in Charlottesville offers a weekly opportunity to buy directly from the farmers and producers who grow your food.

Shopping at a farmers market like Forest Lakes Farmers Market is a different experience from buying groceries at a chain store. Vendors at Forest Lakes Farmers Market are not middlemen — they are the farmers, bakers, cheesemakers, and food artisans who produced what they are selling. That directness creates a quality and freshness that supply-chain grocery products rarely match.

The seasonal nature of a farmers market is one of its most distinctive features. Forest Lakes Farmers Market carries what Charlottesville-area farms are currently harvesting, which means the selection is always an honest reflection of what is growing well in the region right now. Early-season markets tend to be heavy on greens and transplants; midsummer is the peak of variety; fall transitions to roots, alliums, winter squash, and preserves. Regular shoppers come to understand this rhythm and plan their cooking around it.

Every vendor at Forest Lakes Farmers Market is there because they chose to sell directly to consumers — which generally means they take more pride in what they bring to market. Asking questions about how something was grown, what is coming next week, or how to cook something unfamiliar is not just welcomed at most farmers markets; it is part of the culture.

Visit the market or check their website for the latest hours and vendor information.

Forest Lakes Farmers Market serves as an anchor in Charlottesville's local food system, providing growers and food makers with a reliable direct-to-consumer sales channel each market season.

Contact Forest Lakes Farmers Market directly to learn about accepted payment methods, including whether SNAP/EBT benefits are accepted.