National Farmers Market Week is Aug. 2-8, and to celebrate York County will be hosting the Virginia Tourism Corporation’s “live-sized” LOVE artwork for the entire week leading up to the Aug. 8 market that runs from 8 a.m. to noon
The letters, which stretch 16 feet in length and stand more than six feet tall, are an extension of the “Virginia is for Lovers” brand.
The LOVE letters will be on display between Water Street Grille and the Freight Shed. The Letters will be open to the public for photo opportunities beginning Aug. 1 and will remain up through Aug. 9.
More than 200 permanent LOVE letters, called LOVEworks, exist across the state, according to a news release from the county.
In 2019, the VTC and the Virginia Farmers Market Association teamed up to add “Virginia is for Farmers Market Lovers” to their LOVE line to pay homage to markets across America.
The farmers market in York County has been around for 14 years. The open-air outdoor locations allows vendors to spread out booths to maintain social distancing and make families feel safer.
The market is a participant in the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
As part of Virginia’s Fresh Match Program, shoppers using an EBT or Virginia Pandemic-EBT card to buy produce from Allen’s Farm, Penn Farm, Terra Aqua Dynamics or Joe’s Grows will get a dollar-for-dollar match. For example, customers who spend $20 will receive $40 worth of produce.
Shoppers also have the opportunity to try new varieties of produce. Allen’s Farm offers Smooth Criminal Summer Squash, and Penn Farm has a crop of Moon and Stars Watermelons.
There will be other items available for purchase by SNAP dollars and the emergency pandemic funds,including produce plants, breads, meat, fish, poultry, dairy products, local honey, and baked goods, according to the news release.
Visitors are encouraged to take pictures with the LOVE letters in the week leading up to Yorktown’s market and post to social media.
Those who use the hashtags #LOVEVA #lovemymarket and #visityorktown and also tag Visit Yorktown and Virginia is for Lovers will automatically be entered in a drawing for one of three farm baskets containing produce, baked goods, and other items donated by Yorktown’s vendors and artists.
The baskets will be distributed during the National Farmers Market Week event.
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