The area around Charlottesville is passionate about local foods and the farmers that till the land to bring the food directly to the public. A Fluvanna County High School student dreams of a place where the local food movement spotlights the farmers and local food producers within 150 miles from the center of rural Palmyra.

Manna Edwards at 15 years old is a Flying Fluco sophomore who wants to create a festival that goes beyond the average food fest, as well as the average vegetarian festival. This gathering is to be known as The Farmer’s Table. The event is going to be geared differently. It is not just a farmers’ market where farmers sell their produce to the public and also have crafts. It is also not Old Farm Day, a Fluvanna autumn ritual that is more like a traditional county fair of old. The Farmer’s Table is a festival that will introduce to the public the idea that food produced locally and delivered directly to a consumer is beneficial. It will allow farmers to promote themselves directly to the public and share with them about how they produce the food that we eat.

According to the brochure given out to those that attended the kickoff meeting held at the Fluvanna County Office Complex on Dec. 15, the benefit of having a local food festival is to directly support local farmers, a more sustainable form of agriculture, savings to the consumer (as the food avoids the added cost of third-party warehousing and distribution), helping build community (a rapport between farmer and buyer), and the preservation of open spaces. Edwards formed the idea when she was interested in creating a Fluvanna-based vegetarian festival, but she wanted to go a little further. She does not want to change minds, but instead wants to introduce the best in Fluvanna and rural Central Virginia’s agricultural products.

Edwards and her mother, Wendy, had discussed previous vegetarian events in the nearby area. Edwards has been a vegetarian for “about” three years, but she was not interested in going to any festivals that were being hosted because she did not like the “sections that had posters showing animals being mistreated or had been killed.”  These protest actions did not sit well with her.

“Why can’t there be a festival where people don’t push their thoughts on you?” She asked, being a free-thinking girl. And with this thought, the whole idea of The Farmers’ Table was born.

It started out as a Fluvanna-hosted vegetarian festival, but Edwards realized that not everyone is interested in vegetarianism.

“I’m not going to be able to change anyone else’s opinion on eating meat,” she said in her opening remarks at the introductory meeting. Wanting to be inclusive, she decided that those who enjoyed meat should not be left out. Edwards thought, in keeping with her beliefs in the ending cruel treatment of animals, but not wanting to alienate those that enjoy or produce meat, to bring in local meat producers that use humane methods in their slaughtering techniques as well as open-pasture and natural diets for their livestock. The widening of the festival to add humane meat producers makes the festival an activity that can showcase local farmers and other local food producers that are within earshot of Fluvanna as part of the celebrated local food movement.

The Farmer’s Table idea has garnered the interest of many in the local government and those involved in the advocacy of local food. John Thompson, who represents the Fluvanna division of Virginia’s Cooperative Extension and works closely with Fluvanna’s farmers, is very supportive of the effort and is ready to offer his office’s services in making this event work. He sees the whole thing as nothing but positive.

Thompson wants to put the local farmers in the spotlight, “first and foremost.” He sees this festival as a way for farmers to have the time to really explain what they do and how they do it to prospective customers as well as encouraging youth. 

“If you like knowing where your eats come from,” then this festival is ready-made for the discerning customer. It will also help to build relationships. He sees The Farmer’s Table as a “critical” way for young people to learn how food is obtained and manufactured. 

Thompson does not discount how the festival can show the possibilities of educational programs in agriculture in the future in Fluvanna. The other possibilities that will be a positive to the community will be added tourism for the county, especially in the areas of agritourism, as well as showing how farming was done in the past, which is beloved in a county that values its agricultural heritage.

Already the Farmers’ Table festival has grabbed the attention of the Central Virginia community. The Charlottesville Whole Foods Market brought some local food fare that was served at the meeting from Virginia food businesses. The store is very interested in continuing the relationship with the festival. Also the Local Food Hub, which seeks to bring farmer and consumer together has committed to being a sponsor. Charlottesville Radio Group, which operates WINA 1070, Z95.1 and 106.1 is ready to lend media support. The festival is still in its infancy, but Edwards is eagerly ready to do what she can to make this activity work. The festival is proposed to be a one-day event at Pleasant Grove with a tentative date of Aug. 19, from noon to 5 p.m. The day will be filled with vendors talking about and selling their wares, as well as activities for the kids and demonstrations by local chefs. The coordinators are still looking for vendors, sponsors, volunteers, and people to help handle logistics and management of the event. If you are interested in learning more, or want to be a part of helping the event to be fully established, contact or visit http://farmerstableva.com/.