Forest farmers market

Forest farmers market pairs Saturday shopping with a food-access mission: the market partners with the Society of St. Andrew to glean the market and distribute food to local pantries. That practical link between vendors and local hunger relief sits alongside a producer-only setup, so what shoppers encounter here was grown, raised, or made by the people selling it. Set behind the Forest Library on Forest Road in Bedford County, the market also gives first-time visitors an easy landmark to aim for. The result is a market shaped as much by direct producer sales as by clear local connections.

Why it matters locally

The market’s gleaning partnership with the Society of St. Andrew directs food from the market to local food pantries. Leftover produce is also donated to the Salvation Army and Daily Bread, extending the market’s reach beyond the Saturday sales window. For shoppers, that local role is tied to how the market operates day to day: Forest farmers market is producer-only, with no reselling, and vendors may sell only what they raise, grow, or create. SNAP incentives are backed by Bedford Community Health Foundation, connecting fresh-food shopping with a named local sponsor. Together, those pieces make the market a direct outlet for producers and a practical part of local food distribution.

What you'll find there

Producer-only rules give this market a tight mix of farm goods and handmade items rather than a reseller-heavy spread. The current vendor roster highlighted by the market leans toward pantry staples, meat and eggs, pumpkins, and hemp products, with a few recurring services and occasional programming folded into the visit.

• -Browse Bedco Hemp for 1-ounce full-spectrum 1000mg CBD oil tinctures, including peppermint and lemon, plus CBD bath bombs and hemp-derived smokeable flowers.
• -Pick up pumpkins from Goat Island Acres, described by the market as a pumpkin grower extraordinaire.
• -Find produce, honey, pickles, lamb, chicken, and eggs from Hidden Meadows Lazowski.
• -Shop another Bedco Hemp listing for tinctures, CBD bath bombs, and hemp-derived smokeable flowers.
• -See a second Goat Island Acres listing centered on pumpkins.
• -Return to Hidden Meadows Lazowski for produce, honey, pickles, lamb, chicken, and eggs in a second vendor listing.

Knife sharpening is offered every Saturday, adding a practical errand to the regular market run. The market also runs a once-a-month winter season from November through April on the second Saturday of the month. Musicians are occasionally scheduled, including local children’s author, illustrator, and musician Sara Ernst.

Know before you go

Parking logistics are the detail most likely to shape your arrival: shoppers are directed to park in the Forest Library lot, and if that lot is full, the Forest Presbyterian church lot is available. The market sits behind the Forest Library on Forest Road and runs on a paved portion of a walking trail, which helps with strollers, carts, and mobility devices. Handicap-accessible bathrooms are available in the Forest Library in front of the market. Dogs are welcome. If produce choice matters to your plan, the market’s shopping tips note that earlier shopping offers a stronger pick and more one-on-one time with vendors.

Payments & SNAP

SNAP/EBT is accepted at Forest farmers market. The market also states that SNAP incentives are provided by Bedford Community Health Foundation, tying benefit use to an identified local sponsor. Payment methods are presented clearly for shoppers planning purchases across multiple vendors.