Cox Farms Summer Market

Cox Farms Summer Market

If you know Cox Farms from their fall festival (and who in Northern Virginia does not), the summer market is a completely different experience but just as worth the drive. Every Friday through Sunday from June through early September, they open up the market with fresh seasonal produce, hanging flower baskets, local honey, and their Corner Market shop. Admission is free. You just walk in, browse, and buy whatever looks good.

We started going last summer when I was tired of grocery store tomatoes that taste like nothing. The produce at Cox Farms is picked that week, and you can actually taste the difference. My kids were not exactly thrilled about a "vegetable shopping trip" until we got there and they realized they could pick out their own peaches and eat them on the spot. Now they ask to go back. The strawberries in June are incredible, and by July the corn and tomatoes are in full swing. They also have sunflowers later in the season, which the kids love to pick.

What I like about this place for families is how relaxed it is. There is no rush, no crowds pushing through aisles, no noise. You park right there in the lot, walk up to the market area, and take your time. The kids can see the farm while you shop. It is a real working farm, so depending on the time of year there are different things growing in the fields around you. My four-year-old asks a million questions about where food comes from, and this is the kind of place where she can actually see it.

The Corner Market is worth checking out even if you are not buying produce. They carry local jams, salsas, baked goods, and other things you will not find at the regular store. We always leave with a jar of honey and whatever jam catches our eye. The hanging baskets and flowers are beautiful too if you are looking for something for your porch or garden. It is one of those outings that does not feel like a big production. You drive out, spend 30 minutes or an hour, grab some great food, and head home. The kids feel like they went on an adventure, and you come back with a bag full of things your family will actually eat. It is open all summer, so you can go whenever the weekend schedule works for you.

Parent Tips 💡

• ✓Address: 15621 Braddock Rd, Centreville, VA 20120
• ✓Bring cash or card. The produce and market items are for purchase, but admission and parking are free.
• ✓Go earlier in the day on weekends for the best selection, especially for popular items like strawberries and peaches.
• ✓Let your kids pick something out. They are way more likely to eat fruits and vegetables they chose themselves.
• ✓Wear comfortable shoes. You are walking on gravel and grass, so sandals and flip-flops are not great for little ones.
• ✓Check their social media before you go to see what is in season that week. The selection changes throughout summer.
• ✓Bring a cooler for the car if it is a hot day. You do not want your produce sitting in a warm car if you have other stops to make.