Chamber Insider Blog

Thank you to Cynthia from LVHMC – Loudoun Valley Homegrown Farmers Market Cooperative for sharing your story with us. Congratulations on being a finalist for the 30th Annual Loudoun Small Business Awards! View all finalists here and event info here.

Tell us the story of your business and how it’s evolved.

LVHMC was founded by local farmers in 1994 and has been a producer-only farmer’s market for 30 years! Our farmer’s markets are a hub for small food businesses and local farmers to reach customers and develop their products and customer base. Our organization is member-led and consists of local volunteers and personal contractors who LOVE farmer’s markets.

Within the past 30 years, going to a LVHMC farmer’s market has become a tradition in Loudoun families across generations. We see loyal customers who like knowing where their food comes from and knowing who makes the food they eat! Our Co-op of farmers and producers loves partnering with local non-profits and sharing new innovative ways we can all meet our missions and fill the needs that come up in our communities.

What are you most proud of when it comes to your team?

When it comes to my team, I am the most proud of how entrepreneurial, inclusive, and flexible everyone is. Coordinating a farmer’s market day takes a lot of collaboration and teamwork. Our goal is to create a fun free family event where customers can find all the essentials they need to feed their families and learn more about the rich diversity in agriculture available to us in our very own region. We’re often at the mercy of the weather, but the market is open rain or shine and our team is really great at keeping our spirits up. I think customers come to the market for that positivity.

In what ways do you give back to the Loudoun community?

Our board of directors is made of our members and giving back to the community is a huge priority for us. In order to give back to the community, our first priority is food access.

We are partnered with Virginia Fresh Match (VFM). This puts us in a network of farmer’s markets that double the value of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), making it possible for customers in Loudoun to spend double on fruits and vegetables. LVHMC is also happy to be partnered with Loudoun Hunger Relief. Our farmers donate fresh produce to Loudoun Hunger every week and we are happy to contribute to those in need.

What would it mean to you and your business to win a Small Business Award?

LVHMC winning the Small Business Award would be a testament of hard work and dedication to our farmers, producers and customers.

The recent pandemic was a major challenge for the organization and each individual business that makes up the market. Some of our businesses and members are still recovering from that period and we are grateful for the outpouring support customers offered by making us their favorite destination and shopping at our market to help us support our families too. This award would serve LVHMC as a warm reminder of how far perseverance and collaboration can take us.

Who is the one person that has influenced you the most in your career?

My former supervisor Claudia Maynez, with the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO), is the one person who has influenced me the most in my career as an Outreach Coordinator. Working with Claudia at EO exposed me to an enormous global network of entrepreneurs from all walks of life. What I learned from Claudia and EO  members defied everything I ever thought I knew about owning a business, career–and what we call work. My experience encouraged me to jump for my passions and I started working in farmer’s markets and connecting that with health and wellness.

What did you want to be when you grew up as a child?

I’m originally from New York, so when I was a kid, I wanted to grow up and be the person who organized the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! I remember the city always seemed to buzz like a small town when the parade was coming up. I wanted a job that created that kind of joy and excitement, or any excuse to celebrate and gather with loved ones.

If you’re not in the office, where can we find you/what is another passion you have?

My passions for food, education, entertainment and wellness often take me to explore local farm-to-table restaurants, live music shows, wellness fairs, and hiking local gardens and trails with my 10-year-old daughter and our lab mix.

How do you see your business evolving in the next 5 years?

In the next 5 years, I see our LVHMC cooperative of farmers and producers continue to help more local farms and businesses launch and grow their businesses. I see more community members getting more involved with the coop as volunteers and organizers to help reach more of our community partners and make a greater impact.

Learn more + visit LVHMC! Website