Vote for Your Favorite Farmers Market

There's still time to vote for your favorite farmers market in this year's fourth annual America's Favorite Farmers Markets contest, sponsored by the American Farmland Trust.

The summer-long competition seeks to find out which farmers markets can generate the most votes from their customers. The goal of the contest is to promote the role that farmers markets play in keeping family farmers on the land, according to the Trust.  

In Loudoun, residents and visitors can choose to vote for Leesburg's very own LVHMA Leesburg Farmers Market, which runs every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon, May thru Oct. and 9 a.m. to noon from Nov thru April. The local market features local seasonal fruits, vegetables, beef, pork, lamb, chicken, eggs, cheeses, wine, pet treats, salsa, plants and baked goods.

Also in the running is the Ashburn Farmers Market and Purcellville Farmers Market. 

The 2012 contest has been expanded to include all 7,175 markets that are listed in the Department of Agriculture’s National Farmers Market Directory. As part of the contest, a $1,000 Farmers Market Inspiration Award will be presented to a farmer who shows great dedication to his or her market.

Market fans can vote for as many participating farmers markets as they choose, but can only vote for each market once. Voting runs through midnight on Sept. 3, when one small, one medium, one mid-size and one large market will win the title of “America’s Favorite Farmers Market” for 2012.

The winning markets will be honored at local celebrations organized by American Farmland Trust.

For more information about the 2012 America’s Favorite Farmers Markets contest or to vote, visit www.votemyfarmersmarket.org.