As fast as cooks stirred up cauldrons of Brunswick stew at the 17th Street Farmers’ Market yesterday, Lenny and Jeri Sturm bought it. Walking through the crowded market, the Sturms each carried bags with containers of stew purchased from vendors competing for Best in Show. Their two favorites had more of a tomatoey flavor, said Lenny Sturm of Chesterfield County, noting that some of the stews were too sweet for their tastes.

Ashland Farmers’ Market, 101 Thompson St., Ashland, 798-9219. 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays through November.
  Byrd House Market, behind William Byrd Community House, South Linden Street and Idlewood Avenue, 643-2717. 3:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays through October.
  Chester Farmers’ Market, Chester Village Green, Village Green Drive and Centre Street, 748-9650. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through October.

Ashland Farmers’ Market, 101 Thompson St., Ashland, 798-9219. 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays through November.
  Byrd House Market, behind William Byrd Community House, South Linden Street and Idlewood Avenue, 643-2717. 3:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays through October.
  Chester Farmers’ Market, Chester Village Green, Village Green Drive and Centre Street, 748-9650. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through October.

Ashland Farmers’ Market,
101 Thompson St., Ashland, 798-9219. 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays through November.
  Byrd House Market, behind William Byrd Community House, South Linden Street and Idlewood Avenue, 643-2717. 3:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays through October.
  Chester Farmers’ Market, Chester Village Green, Village Green Drive and Centre Street, 748-9650. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through October.

Rosa Fleming and Evelyn Luceal Allen have been part of the 17th Farmers’ Market for generations. Their father, Thomas Emanuel Carter Sr., brought them to the market as youngsters to sell fruits and vegetables from the back of his truck. For Fleming, that was more than 50 years ago; for Allen, more than 65. The sisters from Mechanicsville are as equipped as anyone to forecast the fortunes of the market, whose annual grand opening is today.

Some residents are questioning a potential deal to lease part of Petersburg’s Farmers Market building. A lease arrangement between the city and the nonprofit Historic Petersburg Foundation is being negotiated, partly as a way for the city to get money to finish the renovations of the market at 9 E. Old St. Petersburg plans to turn the historic building into the city’s visitor center.

Western Henrico to get farmers market April 25 Twice-weekly Gayton Road market is part of a growing trend in the Richmond area Henrico County is fairly new to the farmers-market movement, but it’s making up for lost time. This month, the Henrico Board of Supervisors approved the West End Farmers Market, which will operate twice weekly at the Gayton Centre Shopping Center at Gayton Road and Ridgefield Parkway.

The Northern Virginia native has taken charge in Shockoe Bottom, and the customers love him.

If buying local is the mantra of the green movement, the Williamsburg Farmers Market is the place to be for eco-friendly holiday preparations.