A Season of Growth in Woodbridge: Gratitude & Community Impact

As the season winds down, we’re reflecting on our inaugural year at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center in Woodbridge. With just one week left, it’s hard to believe how much has been accomplished in only 17 weeks, and how much this marketplace has already come to mean to the community.

When we first stepped onto Sentara’s campus, our goal was simple: create a space where neighbors could meet the makers, farmers, and food entrepreneurs behind the products they love. What unfolded was so much more. Together, we’ve been cultivating community in Prince William County, one market day at a time.

A Marketplace for Many

Each week, our Woodbridge location offered 25 spaces for local businesses and organizations to connect directly with the public. Over the course of the season, those spaces rotated among:

• 25 food-focused microbusinesses bringing fresh produce, baked goods, and prepared foods
• 10 artisan businesses sharing handcrafted goods and artistry
• 10 community organizations offering resources, education, and support

That’s a total of 45 unique participants across the season, all based within 100 miles of Woodbridge. While not all were present every week, together they brought diversity, energy, and a truly local flavor to the marketplace.

The Impact of Local

These rotating businesses created more than a shopping experience. They nurtured a culture of entrepreneurship and resilience:

• Microbusinesses gained visibility, tested products, and built loyal customer bases.
• Artisans found a storefront in the heart of Woodbridge, many for the first time.
• Community organizations strengthened connections with the very people they serve.

For residents, the market was a chance to keep dollars local, shorten the distance from farm to fork, and experience the unique culture that comes from face-to-face interactions with small business owners.

This is the ripple effect of local markets: when we support small businesses, we support families, jobs, and the long-term vitality of the community.

Gratitude to Sentara NVMC

None of this would have been possible without our partnership with Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center. By welcoming Long Family Markets onto your campus, you gave us the opportunity to expand into Prince William County and plant the seeds of something new.

Sentara’s commitment to the health of this community extends beyond hospital walls. By hosting this market, you’ve supported healthier food access, stronger local businesses, and the kind of community connections that can’t be measured but are deeply felt.

For that vision and generosity, we are sincerely grateful.

A Thank You to Our Participants

To the 45 businesses and organizations who filled our 25 weekly spaces throughout the season: thank you. Your products, your stories, and your dedication turned a new venture into a thriving community market.

You are the heart of what we do.

Looking Ahead

As we wrap up this season in Woodbridge, we are filled with gratitude and excitement for what lies ahead. This first year has shown us the impact a small but mighty marketplace can have, and with partners like Sentara NVMC and the support of this incredible community, the future is bright.

Here’s to many more seasons of cultivating community together.

With gratitude,
Robin Long
Owner | Chief Strategist | Chaos Coordinator
Long Family Markets

Visit the Woodbridge Farmers Market page for this season’s dates and hours.