April showers have arrived but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the weekend. Whether you’re celebrating Passover, Easter, or a three-day weekend, we hope you do so while supporting our community of farmers, makers and retailers.
April also brings the start of weekly markets throughout the region. View our Spring Market Guide to find a farmers’ market near you.
Welcome to the Edible Blue Ridge newsletter that brings you food stories from our region and beyond. You're receiving this email because you've purchased a magazine subscription—thank you!—or you signed up via our online form. If you need to opt out at any time, there's a link at the bottom. We're glad you're here.
Thanks for reading, happy eating, and enjoy the long weekend,
Lisa



MOVERS & SHAKERS: RIVERSTONE ORGANIC FARM
A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of touring Riverstone Organic Farm as a part of the Roanoke Foodshed Network’s Farm Tours program. Tucked into a quiet valley in Floyd, farmers Tiffany Thompson and Alex Hessler have operated the certified organic farm since 2019. With 12 acres under production, Tiffany and Alex provide Floyd and surrounding communities with fresh vegetables year-round. Their on-site farm store is open daily from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Inside you’ll find Riverstone’s produce (we’re suckers for their baby kale!) alongside local meats, eggs, cheese and artisanal products.
You can also find Riverstone at the Floyd and Blacksburg Saturday farmers’ markets and at local restaurants and natural food stores. To purchase a CSA Farm Share, click here.
EVENTS
Have an event you’d like us to share? Email: info@edibleblueridge.com
TODAY! Chocolate Walk - Harrisonburg
4.08 Lick Run Farm Spring Social - Roanoke
4.08 Easter Eggstravaganza - Charlottesville
4.15 Mars Market: Spring Edition - Ciders from Mars, Staunton
4.15 Daze of Rose - Castle Hill Cider - Keswick
4.22 Rocktown Beer & Music Festival - Harrisonburg
MORE TO CHEW ON
Would you pay $427 for a dozen eggs? This isn’t the first time 🥚 prices have soared. Read about The Great Egg Wars during the California Gold Rush.
👃👃👃Has our sense of smell(and its importance) diminished as we’ve evolved? Why do we say I see, to mean I understand, instead of I smell?
James Beard Award-Recognized Yuka Ioroi and Kris Toliao return to Richmond, this time with a wine bar 🍷
WHAT WE’RE COOKING
Why did New Zealanders choose Pavlova as their national dessert? Channel your inner Great British Bake-Off contestant this weekend and make our Spring Pavlova Recipe to find out why.
POEM OF THE WEEK
The Dogwoods
by Linda Pastan
I remember, in the week of the dogwoods, why sometimes we give up everything for beauty, lose our sense and our senses, as we do now for these blossoms, sprinkled like salt through the dark woods. And like the story of the pheasants with salt on their tails to tame them, look how we are made helpless by a brief explosion of petals one week in April.