QUANTICO MARINE CORPS BASE, Va. -- Partnered with the Virginia Cooperative Extension Program, an educational outreach program, the Quantico Farmers’ Markets Vegucation Station helps customers learn more about the benefits of eating fresh, healthy, local foods.
“We are here to educate customers,” said Lauren King, Marine Corps Community Services Semper Fit dietician. “We found from last years Farmers’ Market there’s a big piece missing and people need education about fruit and vegetable intake along with how to purchase it.”
Each week, the Vegucation Station will feature a different fruit or vegetable, and offer customers information, tasting and or a recipe to go along with the food selection that week.
“People won’t buy what they don’t know,” said Elizabeth Borst, market manager. “So we have to expose our customers to different stuff and teach them how to select, prepare and store what they buy. Those are all things that people want to know to make them comfortable to buy different things.”
The Quantico Farmers’ Market kicked off last month as part of the Department of Defense healthy base initiative. The healthy base initiative is designed to help of service members, families, civilians and contractors discover way to improve their health and wellness by making healthy food choices and increasing physical activity.
The Quantico Farmers’ Market is located near the Marine Corps Exchange parking lot near McDonalds at 3500 Russell Rd. and will be open every Thursday from noon–5 p.m., until Sept. 4. Local vendors will include C&T Produce, from Stafford, Va.; G. Flores Produce from Hague, Va.; Papa Weaver’s Pork from Orange Va.; and Great Harvest Bread Company from Burke, Va. The Vegucation Station will be at the Quantico Farmers’ Market June 26, July 10, Aug. 7 and 14 and Sept. 4.
Editor's note: Since this story was written the Quantico Farmers Market has changed its hours. It is now open every Thursday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
— Writer: twertz@quanticosentryonline.com