Press

Loudoun Flavor in Loudoun County Woman Magazine
See pages 10 and 18

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Northern Virginia Magazine
Crop Rapport: Loudoun Flavor

Not all winter farmers markets require that you bundle yourself up like an Inuit hunter in order to take advantage of the freshest foods of the day.

Just ask any of the 1,200 (and counting) customers who prefer to do their shopping at mousepoint via Loudoun Flavor–a virtual farm stand stocked with locally sourced victuals.

Loudoun Flavor boasts approaching three dozen producers–including local wineries, farms, and artisan food and crafts makers–in its homegrown supply chain, the majority of which are indigenous to Loudoun County.

Market manager and Herban Avenues founder Laura Davimes said they’ve made a few exceptions for superlative outside producers (Bakemm Bagels, Shenandoah Joe Coffee Roasters, Mountain View Dairy Farm) but stressed that their preferred pecking order remains “Loudoun first, surrounding counties second and Virginia third.”

Quality, however, goes a long way towards trumping mere proximity.

“For us quality includes certified organic ingredients, fair trade beans, etc. and these vendors have a philosophy that is in line with our market mission,” Davimes said of high standards to which market vendors are held. “Our market food is what my family is eating every week so I (selfishly) want it to be fantastic.”

Though certain vendors naturally shine a little brighter during different times of the year–Mom”s Apple Pie Bakery reportedly enjoyed a spike in blackberry pie sales after Southern Living paid them some lip service this June, Stoneybrook Farms’ tomatoes were fast movers in July and poultry farms made a killing in November–Davimes said most Loudoun Flavor vendors stick with the program year-round.

Consumers, likewise, are welcome to shop at will.

“We are happy to bring you one loaf of just-baked bread or three bags full of groceries … your choice,” Davimes suggested, equating the shop-from-home service to “an ‘ala carte’ CSA.”

During the bustling summer months, shopping orders are accepted Monday-Wednesday of each week with deliveries sent to the predetermined delivery points every Friday. Come winter, the market switches to a bi-weekly shopping window but abides by the same order/delivery timeline (shop: Mon-Wed, collect: Fri). Newcomers can try out the site for free, while repeat customers will eventually be prompted to consider shifting to an annual membership ($25 per year) via email “reminders.”

That fee covers all the expected administrative costs–”everything from ink to ice,” Davimes explained–and also includes invites to special events (farm tours, movie nights, Made in Loudoun Gift Fair), free samples and sporadic discounts.

Oh yeah, and then there’s Tomato Fest:

LF - Tomato Contest

This past summer, Davimes et al. took it upon themselves to celebrate all things toma-toh by sharing their favorite vine-ripened creations with complementary pairings poured by Corcoran Vineyards and Chrysalis Vineyards.

“People bought bruschetta and baguettes and sat down with their wine, or took home a bag of tomatoes and garlic and a recipe to make their own. It was alot of fun,” Davimes said of the roving food and wine soiree. “Next year we will hop to three or four vineyards with our fest.”

On the the agenda for 2011: securing a trusted seafood vendor. And adding more pick-up sites in outlying areas (Davimes called out Fairfax, specifically).

Meanwhile, Davimes plans to continue fighting to keep LoCo as green as can be.

“Loudoun should be D.C.’s Countryside and not D.C.’s next over-developed commuter bedroom community. If we get lazy about preserving the best of Virginia’s farmland now, it won’t be there,” she warned.

* Loudoun Flavor’s next ordering window opens Monday, January 3.*

–Warren

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Loudoun Flavor in Loudoun County Woman Magazine