April 30, 2025
MEDIA CONTACT: Kimi Stevens
[email protected]
Chesapeake Health Department Farmers Market Opens For 9th Season
CHESAPEAKE, Va. – The Chesapeake Health Department Friday Farmers Market will open on Friday, May 2, 2025, at 70 Knells Ridge Blvd. Chesapeake. The market is open from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. every Friday from May through October, weather permitting.
The market originally started in the health department parking lot in 2017 with a single farmer, aimed at serving WIC participants and staff. The market has since grown to more than 20 vendors and food trucks in a more visible location at the corner of Knells Ridge Blvd. and Buckley, across from the newly opened VA North Battlefield Outpatient Clinic (behind Chesapeake Regional Healthcare).
The market focuses on locally grown, in season produce, along with traditional market fare including baked goods, fresh eggs, honey, jams, free range chickens, snacks, dog treats, natural beauty products, homemade canned items, and more. Rotating food trucks offer a variety of flavors from coffee to lunch fare. All items are made by local small business vendors, many of whom got their start at the health department Wednesday market.
“The health department farmers market was the first place that gave me the opportunity to showcase my skills as a cottage baker. It also boosted my confidence to expand into larger markets.” said Elisabeth Hernandez of L’s Sourdough, a staple of last year’s market.
“Being accepted into this market was a significant milestone in starting and growing my business. It allowed me to see what works and what doesn’t, while also ensuring that customers know their support goes directly to me and my family. It truly means a lot to us that people keep returning.”
The market is the brainchild of Kimi Stevens, Public Relations Coordinator and Market Manager. “Fresh food is medicine. We chose to embrace an all of public health approach to support our client’s health and improve access to nutrition in a community setting.” said Stevens. “Many of our farmers accept WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program benefits, as well as SNAP/EBT and Virginia Fresh Match.”
The concept of hosting an embedded farmers market to improve population health in a medically vulnerable area was also recognized by the National Association of City and County Health Professionals (NACCHO). Stevens, along with Chesapeake Health Director, Dr. Nancy Welch, and Michelle Kekeh, PhD, MS, Clinical Professor and Interim Director of the Center for Global Health at the Joint School of Public Health, Macon and Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at ODU, were invited to present on the success of the market at the annual NACCHO360 Conference in Anaheim, California in July.
Produce vendors are still being accepted. Please contact Kimi Stevens at [email protected] for more information.
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