greenfarms
farmer’s
markets
Blue Ridge Poultry Co-op
Marion Regional
Farmers’ Market
by Rives Elliot
Corner of Chestnut St. & Cherry St.
Historic Downtown Marion
marionfarmersmarket.com
L
ife for the members of the Blue Ridge Poultry Co-op (BRPC) begins at 6:45
a.m. when Angie LeNoir is out in her fields, moving the chicken pens onto
fresh pasture. This is what gives her chickens taste the rich, full flavor you can
Locally grown and produced
only get from a free-range bird, foraging on grass and insects. Just minutes down
canned goods, baked goods, fresh
the road, Patricia Whitt is engaging in the exact same morning ritual, transport-
flowers, milk & cheeses, roasted
ing over 100 one-month-old chickens onto fresh land. In another month, the
coffees and Appalachian hand-
two women will be processing these chickens on
made crafts. The Atkins First Church
LeNoir’s farm, and most will be carried off by happy
of God offers breakfast, lunch and
customers that same afternoon.
concessions for purchase. Fun
The poultry at the BRPC farms is raised in mov-
for the whole family. Farmers,
able pens, based on the model made famous by
backyard growers & Appalachian
legendary farming icon, Joel Salatin. The pens allow
crafters with an endless supply
the birds to run around and forage in natural sun-
of local produce. Vendor spaces
light while simultaneously keeping out predators.
$10. For more information contact
The pasture that the birds graze on is never
Kenneth Heath at 276-783-4190 or
sprayed, which ensures that they are chemical-free.
Farmers Angie and Patricia
KHeath@MarionVa.org.
Their diet is supplemented with freshly milled, all natural feed, free of genetically
modified organisms (GMO) and animal by-products. They are also never adminis-
Saturday 8am – 12pm tered hormones or antibiotics. The goal of LeNoir and Whitt has been to raise their
Tuesday evenings (peak season)
birds in a manner as natural as possible, which is why their poultry has superior taste
and nutrition. Just ask Nancy Maurelli, owner of Roanoke-based catering company
Good To Go Foods.
Botetourt “Blue Ridge Poultry Co-op chickens are the best I’ve ever had! They’re clean
Farmers’ Market
as a whistle and tender!”
Should you ask about the nutritional benefits, the women will point you to the
Ikenberry’s Orchard
literature of the Weston A. Price Foundation, which claims that pastured animals
2557 Roanoke Rd. (Rt. 220),
have higher levels of Omega-3 and CLA fatty acids, both of which are considered
Daleville
highly beneficial to body.
BotetourtFamilyFarms.com
While the BRPC officially began its
Local farmers, growers and crafters
operation in March of 2008, the seed of its ex-
offer fresh, natural, produce, baked
istence was planted in 2001. Whitt, originally
and canned goods, homemade
of Florida, married a Roanoke native and relo-
soaps, flowers, crafts and much
cated to Fincastle. She began to raise chickens
more. Open April – October with
to feed her family after reading Joel Salatin’s
seasonal items and crafts available
modern how-to classic, Pastured Poultry Profits.
through mid December.
However, it was not until January of 2008 that
Whitt’s friend, LeNoir, suggested that the two of
Saturday 8a.m. – 1p.m.
them go into business together to provide the
quality of poultry that Whitt’s family had been
24
Southwestern Virginia
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