Established in 2010, the Clark Family has owned and operated Willow Grove Farm for over 100 years as a designated Virginia Century Farm in Page County, raising Hereford Beef for over 30 years. Located one mile south of Luray, Virginia just south of Luray Caverns at the intersection of 571 U.S. Highway 340 Business and Stonyman Road, this specialty farm market offers pasture-raised Hereford beef, Wagford beef (a Hereford-Wagyu cross), organic Farmer Focus chicken, pork, seafood, and seasonal produce grown on their Luray farm from May through November. The farm participates in the Virginia Century Farm Program and the Clean Water Farm Program, with all animals pasture raised, not confined to feed lots, and given no growth hormones or appetite stimulants. They offer local and whole foods including eggs, cheese, milk, butter, ice cream, pasta, sauces, coffee, snacks, bread, local honey, jellies, and a variety of gluten free items. The market is open Wednesday through Friday 11 AM - 3 PM and Saturday 10 AM - 1 PM, closed Sunday through Tuesday, often advertising their "Willow Grove beef" and organic produce on a roadside sign. With 56 reviews showing 88% recommendation on Facebook, customers appreciate their fresh Carolina shrimp, salmon, rockfish, and frozen catfish selections alongside their renowned grass-fed beef. The market maintains an active social media presence showcasing weekly seafood specials and farm-fresh products for the Shenandoah Valley community.
Jon Henry General Store set up shop in 2018 inside New Market's historic Abbie Henkel House, which was built in 1802 and actually served as New Market's general store from 1802 through the 1860s. Full circle, right? Located at 9383 North Congress Street in New Market, Virginia, the store focuses on sourcing local, regional, and Fair Trade treats, gifts, and eats. The old floors creak in that satisfying way historic buildings do when you walk past the brooms, vintage license plates, jams and jellies, local honey, memorabilia, wooden toys, canned goods, snacks, candies, and gluten free flour. They've partnered with over 200 Virginian makers to keep shelves stocked, featuring Virginia's Finest products, Virginia Chutney Co., and Copernicus STEM toys from Charlottesville. The store works with over 200 farmers, growers, bottlers, bakers, makers, and locals to bring in seasonal produce, pantry essentials, organic meats, drinks, and dairy treats. Much of the meat comes from owner Jon Henry's family operation, Jumpin Run Farm. Worth noting: they participate in Virginia Fresh Match, which doubles SNAP benefits for fresh Virginia fruits and vegetables, meaning 50% off produce for SNAP/EBT customers and a biweekly farm-vegetable box (normally $20, just $10 with benefits). Their massive Silly Sock Collection has over 300 styles and is unrivaled throughout the Valley. They've also got vintage Levi's denim, fair-trade African baskets, educational wooden toys, and even prime filet-cut alligator meat if you're feeling adventurous. Plus they now have 6 Level 2 Electric Vehicle Chargers for customers and the public. With 90 Facebook reviews showing 98% recommendation, this unique general store is open seven days a week with outdoor produce barns for overflow crops.
Corner Market Farm to Table opened April 20, 2024, sitting right on the Burch Family Farm at the corner of Stonewall Lane and Caverns Road in Quicksburg, VA (literally seconds off exit 269 of I-81, so you can't miss it). Owners Ben Burch and Mindi Freed built this place to connect local farmers and producers with people who actually care about where their food comes from. The Burch family has been farming this land since 1935, with roots going back to the 1750s-1760s, and they raise Angus and Hereford cattle using sustainable practices. What makes their beef interesting is the cattle graze on grass pastures and get grain along with potato peelings and chip rejects from Route 11 Potato Chips. Kind of a perfect local loop, right? The market stocks products from roughly 50 small Virginia businesses, including USDA-inspected beef processed at Gore's with cuts like T-Bone, New York strip, and flat iron steaks. Plus you'll find local produce, maple syrup, honey, marinara sauce, handmade pottery, and artisan crafts. They're big on education too, especially for folks who didn't grow up around farming. Open Wednesday through Saturday 10AM-7PM and Sunday 1-6PM, this spot has quickly become a favorite roadside stop for Shenandoah County residents and travelers passing through on I-81.
Shenandoah Valley Orchards carries over 100 years of Virginia apple-growing heritage, operating a massive 1,500-acre orchard near Timberville as part of the Turkey Knob Growers alliance (6,000+ total acres)—though visitors should note this is primarily a retail farm market and commercial operation rather than a traditional u-pick destination. The orchard's roots trace to 1918 when Captain T.B. Byrd and Senator Harry Byrd established the original 300-acre Dr. Kelly Orchard; today it's run by the Bowman family (owners since 1994) with General Manager Jamie Williams at the helm since 1998, maintaining the Turkey Knob Brand established in 1954 for premium "U.S. Extra Fancy" apples. The Timberville Fruit Market, rated 4.0 stars from 27 reviews, sells fresh apples (20+ varieties including Honeycrisp, EverCrisp®, Pink Lady®, and heirloom Albemarle Pippin), seasonal peaches, nectarines, and both sweet and sour cherries—open Wednesday through Friday 10am-5pm and Saturday 9am-noon from mid-July through mid-December. What sets this orchard apart is its nationwide shipping program, offering apple gift boxes starting at $53 for 10 pounds delivered fresh anywhere in the U.S. including Hawaii—perfect for corporate gifts or sending Virginia-grown fruit to family. The limestone-rich Shenandoah Valley soil produces distinctively flavorful apples, and the operation employs up to 250 workers during peak harvest while maintaining third-party food safety certification and eco-friendly practices including natural pollination. For those specifically seeking u-pick apples near Harrisonburg, nearby Showalter's Orchard offers pick-your-own experiences, but Shenandoah Valley Orchards remains the region's premier source for purchasing premium Virginia apples directly from a century-old family farm with deep agricultural roots in the Valley.
Friendly City Food Co-op opened its doors in June 2011 in downtown Harrisonburg, created by area residents wanting to keep grocery dollars local and support the community economy. This 6,475-square-foot community-owned full-service grocery store features natural, organic, and locally-produced food from local farmers and producers, including nostalgic glass milk bottles, hard-to-find fresh herbs, bulk spices, and gourmet cheeses. Located at 150 E. Wolf St., the member-owned cooperative is open daily 8:00AM-8:00PM, offering everyone access to shop while anyone can join as a member for a one-time $200 share or $25/month payment plan. The store provides a soup and salad bar, hot-bar, and deli-made sandwiches, plus a deli grab-and-go section with indoor café-style seating and outdoor covered patio. With 92% recommend rating from 266 Facebook reviews and over 10,000 Facebook followers, customers praise the co-op's organic and vegan options, friendly staff, welcoming atmosphere, and competitive pricing often compared to a "mini Whole Foods." The co-op offers community classes on cooking and nutrition to member-owners and customers alike, serving as a vibrant community hub supporting local agriculture, sustainable farming practices, and the Shenandoah Valley economy for over 13 years.
Heard's Cedar Hill Farm Market opened in 2020 when retired dentist Harry Howell Heard III and his wife Valerie transformed a lifelong love of plants into a seasonal farm market at 885 Stonewall Jackson Highway in Bentonville, Virginia. The family-operated business runs from late April through late October (10 AM-6 PM, Wednesday-Sunday), operating as an open-air farmers market featuring products from the Shenandoah Valley under the tagline "From Our Valley To Your Table." Located minutes from Shenandoah National Park's north entrance on Route 340, this farm market offers fresh seasonal produce including heirloom tomatoes, sweet bi-color corn ($0.70/ear or $7/dozen), cantaloupes, and multiple apple varieties ($1.99/lb or $15 for 10 lb peck), alongside locally sourced meats, farm-raised free-range eggs, fresh-baked goods (pies, cheesecakes, cinnamon rolls), and artisan preserves. Their signature specialty items include moonshine jelly described as "will quite literally knock your socks off" and fresh-pressed apple cider, complemented by local honey, handcrafts, Virginia craft beer and wine, and dairy products from regional producers. The market maintains a 96% recommendation rate on Facebook (10 reviews) and has been featured by Preslee Real Estate as "one of the best-kept secrets in the Valley." Pricing remains competitive with pumpkins at $4-$6.99, mums 2 for $30 (large), and seasonal promotions including BOGO sales. Beyond retail, Cedar Hill hosts fall festivals with pumpkin painting, live music, and food trucks like "Smack That Butt BBQ," creating a community gathering spot for tourists visiting Skyline Drive and local residents seeking farm-fresh Virginia products. Contact them at cedarhillfarmmarket@gmail.com or (540) 551-9949.
GlenDor Farm sits on 120 acres of grass in the Shenandoah Valley, and if you've ever wondered what beef should actually taste like, this is where you find out. Named for Glendon and Dorothy Blosser, the farm is now run by fourth-generation farmer Bryce Blosser with his wife Melanie and their two young boys. They've been doing this for over 50 years. The cattle (Angus and Hereford) are pasture-raised without antibiotics, hormones, additives, or preservatives, and honestly the difference shows up the second you open a package. Located at 1513 Mount Clinton Pike in Harrisonburg, they typically charge around $2.60 per pound live weight plus processing, which is pretty hard to beat for quality this good. The operation grew from butchering 15 head annually to about 12 per month during the pandemic (when everybody suddenly cared about where their food came from), and they opened a drive-up farmstand in August that runs Wednesdays 4-6PM and Saturdays 10AM-2PM. Here's the wild part... demand is so high they sell about an entire cow each day the stand is open. You can also find them at the Harrisonburg Farmers Market from March through January. They offer individual cuts, quarters, halves, and whole beef shares, plus beef liver dog treats and artisanal tallow skin-care products, all processed at USDA-inspected facilities. Customers can't stop talking about the flavor and the family's commitment to taking care of the land the right way.
Dean and Syvilla Pence started this family-owned food distributor back in 1964, and it's been USDA-inspected from day one. Over 60 years later, Wholesome Foods is still feeding families across Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia from their home base in the Shenandoah Valley. They run two Wholesome Butcher & Deli locations (one in Edinburg at 986 South Ox Road, open Mon-Fri 8AM-5PM and Sat 8AM-1PM, another in Woodstock at 465 W Reservoir Road, open Mon-Fri 9AM-7PM and Sat 9AM-3PM). What do they specialize in? Beef, pork, poultry, deli meats, cheeses, Old Dominion Country Ham, and Virginia's Best all-natural artesian water. They developed their own Old Dominion brand of smoked and cured meats, plus they carry names like Esskay, Hatfield, John Martin, Kunzler Meats, and Pilgrim's Pride Poultry Products. Weekly specials save you money on top of already low prices, and the selection includes USDA Choice Angus beef, fresh poultry, eggs, Amish butter, crab legs, breakfast sandwiches, burgers, subs, and fresh fried chicken. Can't make it in person? Order online and they'll ship anywhere in the US. I stopped by the Woodstock location once and the smell of that fresh fried chicken nearly made me late getting back on the road. The company recently dropped nearly $1.2M on expansion with state and county support, keeping about 60 employees busy while serving both retail customers and wholesale operations throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.
Fulks Run Grocery, built in 1949 by Garnett and Lena Turner, has been serving customers since 1949 as a family-owned store in Fulks Run, Virginia. The store specializes in curing country hams in the traditional manner for over 50 years, making it the home of Turner Hams with prices ranging from $5.99/lb for bone-in whole hams to $15.99/lb for cooked ham. The store recently passed the torch to Chad Ritchie during their 75th year of operation, keeping the business in the family after Ron and Peggie Turner ran it for 28 years. Located at 11441 Brocks Gap Road near the West Virginia border in the Shenandoah Valley, this rural country store offers specialty items including Polish pottery, handmade crafts, specialty jams, real bottled sodas with natural ingredients, and local history books. The store is open Monday-Saturday, 9am-5pm, offering nationwide shipping via phone orders. With 38 reviews showing 100% recommendation on Facebook, customers particularly rave about their award-winning fried ham sandwiches ($5 each) served on special "Fried Ham Fridays," which earned a 2017 USA Today Readers' Choice Award for Virginia's best country ham sandwich. The store combines nostalgic country charm with exceptional quality meats, featuring rustic wooden floors and antique furnishings that create a unique shopping experience for visitors seeking authentic Virginia country ham and local products. The current store manager is Jared Bowser, who brings extensive retail and farm-to-table experience to maintain the store's reputation for friendly, familiar customer service.
Robert and Virginia Mowery bought this 20-acre site back in December 1984 and started planting apple and peach trees the next spring. Their daughter Yvette and son-in-law Tom Bullock took things over in 2003 and have been running it since. You'll find Mowery Orchard Farm Market on Route 42, just half a mile west of I-81 Exit 283 in Woodstock, Virginia. It's a year-round farm market now (used to only run 4 months in summer), offering locally produced fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs, cheeses, honey, meat like beef, chicken, and pork, plus spices, jams, wine, and pies. Their vine ripened tomatoes are honestly some of the best around, the kind you can smell before you even reach the stand. Sweet corn doesn't disappoint either. Fresh vegetables, juicy peaches, crisp apples... basics done right. They source from local suppliers including Mt. Crawford Creamery milk, J&L Green Farm grass-fed beef and forest-raised pork, Golden Angels Apiary honey, Henry's Hot Sauces, Mrs. Miller's Noodles, and Route 11 Chips. Since February 2018, Tom has been working with metal art. His pieces hang on the farm market walls and he sells metal fire pits too. Customer reviews consistently mention reasonable prices, excellent produce quality, and a solid selection of Virginia-made products including specialty jams, jellies, sauces, and Amish bulk items. Fair warning though: parking can get tricky during busy times. The market sits in an idyllic Virginia farm stand setting surrounded by beautiful farmlands, making it a popular stop for I-81 travelers looking for authentic local produce, baked goods, and Virginia specialty foods.
Gore's Fresh Meats is a fourth-generation family-owned butcher shop in Stephens City, VA that has been serving the Shenandoah Valley since 1961, making it one of the most established local meat markets in Virginia with over 63 years in business, with their popular retail shop opening in 2011 to sell directly to the community. Founded by Fred Gore and his father "Pop" Gore to help local farmers process livestock properly, this custom butcher shop now operates three facilities including a USDA federally-inspected plant, employs 30+ staff members, and won the 2018 "Small Business of the Year" award from the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber of Commerce. Customers rave about this Stephens City VA butcher, giving it an exceptional 4.9 out of 5 stars on Google (52 reviews) and 32 reviews on Yelp, with testimonials praising their superior meat quality, friendly service, and competitive pricing comparable to grocery stores like Giant and Food Lion. Their signature product, Gore's Famous Country Sausage—available in mild, sage, hot, Italian, bratwurst, kielbasa, and chorizo varieties—is a regional favorite sold at FFA fundraisers and Winchester Kiwanis breakfasts, while traditional offerings like scrapple, ponhoss, puddin' meat, and souse connect customers to old-fashioned butcher shop heritage. The fresh meat Virginia shop at 201 Centre Dr, Suite 106, Stephens City, VA 22655 (phone: 540-869-1129) offers custom-cut steaks, locally-sourced beef, pork, lamb, and chicken with no hormones, antibiotics, or injections, plus smoked meats, deli items, free-range local eggs, and Farm Friends dairy products. Open Monday-Friday 10 AM-6 PM and Saturday 10 AM-5 PM, Gore's Fresh Meats also provides custom meat processing services for hunters and farmers, whole/half/quarter beef and pork packages, and wholesale distribution to restaurants and grocery stores throughout the Shenandoah Valley meat market region. Their deep community involvement includes supporting Hunters for the Hungry, hosting 4-H and FFA carcass judging contests, purchasing livestock from youth at 11+ county fairs, and donating over $60,000 annually in meat and cash to local nonprofits—earning them a reputation as not just a local butcher near Winchester VA, but a cornerstone of Frederick County's agricultural community.
