Farmer’s markets are a beloved aspect of local communities all across the country, and in Northern Virginia, it is no different. In colonial times, farmers markets served as one of the only lines of exchange between rural and urban citizens, and their crucial roles within communities have made a massive comeback in recent years. Today, local markets allow not only a sense of convenience but continue to serve as a way to connect with and support local businesses. Loudoun County has a plethora of farmer’s markets with numerous occasions ranging from Middleburg to Sterling. The Leesburg Farmers Market, a local favorite, keeps customers coming back every Saturday morning.
One of the most popular vendors at the Leesburg Farmers Market comes all the way from Gaithersburg, Maryland, and services multiple farmer’s markets all across the Washington DC metropolitan area. DMV Empanadas is a local Latin American restaurant that offers a variety of different empanadas and desserts and was ranked third overall for the best empanadas in Gaithersburg.
Finding local high-quality coffee can be a challenge for the current generation, a feeling that Kellie Capritta, the founder of Catoctin Coffee, knows all too well. Based in Lovettsville, Virginia, Catoctin Coffee has served the Leesburg and Falls Church farmer’s markets every Saturday for more than 13 years. Catoctin is a women-owned, family-run business that prides itself on offering an assortment of hand-roasted and sustainable coffee products, most of which are sourced from Ethiopia, Indonesia, and various Central American countries.
Before developing the brand, Capritta had a history as a cruise and airline sales executive, propelling her towards an unexpected journey. “I travelled quite a bit to a lot of coffee farms. I became familiar with how the coffee industry was run internationally and wondered why it wasn’t being done here,” Capritta said.
Capritta shared her motivation behind starting the business, inspired in part by her international travels and strong entrepreneurship. “I couldn’t find good coffee, it’s as simple as that. I knew it was out there, but besides the larger players like Pete’s and Starbucks, there weren’t many options to choose from,” Capritta said. “I got the opportunity to sell my products at the farmer’s market after someone else left the business. I had to make a big commitment every Saturday.”
Having a prior connection or heritage when it comes to owning a coffee business can be a great way to get your business off the ground and ultimately running. Capritta shared her family heritage and connections that helped her with her coffee business. She said, “I do have coffee heritage in my family. My husband’s grandmother made coffee in a New York apartment above a bakery. One of her fill-in jobs was to side hustle during the Great Depression. She oven roasted coffee before the convenience of the instant coffee culture came about, being done by a lot of housewives to make additional money.”
The iconic crepe cart is courtesy of Happy Crepe, a small business that has been serving the area since 2011. They have two locations in Leesburg and Cascades with an extensive menu that is constantly being updated with new sweet treats to satisfy customers.
Customers are just as important as the vendors that have businesses. Daughter of the Catoctin Coffee owner Nola Capritta shared what keeps her coming back each year, saying, “What keeps me coming back each year is the hot chocolate. It is my favorite product my parents sell at Catoctin Coffee. I love being able to answer questions when people ask me about my parents’ business and getting to know the people that come to the farmers market.”
The Leesburg farmer’s market is more than just a place to grab a cup of coffee or fresh vegetables from a local farm. It is where the community comes together, supports small businesses, welcomes new vendors, and keeps customers coming back for more. Capritta shared what she looks forward to most, saying, “Next year will be my last year working for my parents’ business before I go off to college, and I look forward to working hard.¨