Chesapeake, Virginia has a quieter, more rural feel than many of its Coastal Virginia neighbors, and you really taste that difference when you shop its farmers markets. From open-air stalls in the middle of a city park to u-pick orchards and family-run farm stands, Chesapeake’s fresh stops are where locals actually go for just-picked produce, eggs, honey, and seasonal treats. The city even highlights these markets on its official tourism site, noting options like Beasley’s Farm Market, Hickory Ridge Farm, MKL Produce, and Mount Pleasant Farms for everything from vegetables and fruit to pumpkins, plants, herbs, and local honey.
Whether you’re a visitor planning a weekend in Hampton Roads or a Chesapeake local finally ready to skip the big-box grocery store, the markets below will help you fill your basket with the best seasonal produce in town.
Chesapeake Farmers’ Market at City Park
If you want the classic weekend farmers market experience, start at the Chesapeake Farmers’ Market at City Park. Set under the Market Shelter at Chesapeake City Park, this open-air market runs on Wednesdays and Saturdays from early June through early December, typically from 8 a.m. to noon. According to the city’s event listing, you’ll find farm-raised vegetables and fruits, herbs, plants, cut flowers, honey, eggs, grass-fed beef and pork, free-range chickens, jams, jellies, pickles, and more (official event info).
Local writers describe it as a small but worthwhile market, with a Priority Toyota Chesapeake guide calling it “a small market” that is still “well worth the effort,” thanks to its selection of fresh produce, baked goods, and homemade jellies, jams, and pickles (local market roundup). For many families, it’s an easy way to grab farm-fresh food and then wander over to the park’s playgrounds, walking paths, or nearby dog park for the rest of the morning.
Online reviewers echo that mix of charm and practicality. One shopper noted that the “selection was a little sparse but the quality of the produce offered was excellent” and added that “it pays to shop early here,” since the best-looking fruits and veggies go fast (review snippet & directions). Another listing summarizes the vibe as a relaxed, open-air gathering of 8–10 vendors offering everything from eggs and flowers to pastries and local meats (regional blog feature).
Why go: This is the spot if you’re in town on a Wednesday or Saturday morning and want a true community market rather than a giant tourist attraction. Arrive early, grab coffee and something baked, then build a picnic from local tomatoes, greens, and berries. Afterward, you can spread out under the trees or let kids burn off energy at Chesapeake City Park’s playgrounds and green spaces (park overview).
Insider tip: Check the market’s Facebook page before you go for up-to-date information on dates, hours, and what local vendors are bringing each week (Chesapeake Farmers’ Market on Facebook).
Mount Pleasant Farms: U-Pick Fruit & Country Store Goodness
For a more immersive “day on the farm” experience, head to Mount Pleasant Farms Visit Chesapeake listing).
Mount Pleasant is much more than a simple produce stand. According to a detailed Wanderlog write-up, visitors regularly enjoy pumpkin patches, fruit picking, tractor rides, corn mazes, hayrides, train rides, horseback riding, and a petting zoo that keeps kids busy for hours (traveler summary). TripAdvisor reviewers mention coming back “multiple years” for strawberries and peaches, praising both the fruit and the friendly staff who run the farm (Mount Pleasant Farms reviews).
The farm’s own website highlights how positive those experiences can be. One customer calls it the “cleanest, friendliest farm I’ve ever been on” and says it’s “one of the best farm experiences I’ve ever had,” adding that the kids’ play area and animal enclosures are impressively tidy (Mount Pleasant Farms official site). That tone carries over to social media as well: the farm boasts a recommendation rate in the high 90s on Facebook, with hundreds of visitors checking in and leaving photos of overflowing fruit buckets and happy kids (Mount Pleasant Farms on Facebook).
What to buy: Depending on the season, you might fill your trunk with u-pick strawberries or peaches, pumpkins for carving, jars of local honey, fresh eggs, and baked goods. It’s the kind of place where you grab a basket, wander the fields, and build your own farm-fresh haul.
Insider tip: U-pick seasons change quickly. Before driving out, check their website or Facebook page for current fruit availability and hours.
Hickory Ridge Farm: Strawberries, Pumpkins & Family Time
In Chesapeake’s Hickory section, Hickory Ridge Farm offers another beloved mix of fresh produce and family fun. The farm covers about 18 acres and includes roughly three acres of strawberries in May, followed by summer produce from June through August and you-pick pumpkins in the fall (farm overview). It’s a working family farm that leans into seasonal experiences rather than just a roadside stand.
According to various visitor summaries, Hickory Ridge sells vibrant fruits and vegetables alongside locally sourced honey and other seasonal goods (traveler write-up). There’s also a petting zoo with farm animals, and depending on the time of year, you might find strawberry picking in spring, pumpkin picking in autumn, and special weekend events.
Online reviews emphasize how family-friendly the atmosphere is. One reviewer described the farm as the “highlight of our family’s Mother’s Day weekend,” saying they enjoyed the food and drinks, had fun with the farm animals and puppies, and found great items at the farm stand before heading home (review highlights & directions). Yelp listings also point out the long-standing reputation of Hickory Ridge as a go-to place for Chesapeake families looking for something hands-on and outdoorsy (Hickory Ridge Farm on Yelp).
What to buy: In strawberry season, come ready to pick your own. In late summer and fall, expect sweet corn, pumpkins, and other seasonal vegetables. The on-site stand usually carries extra produce and local specialties, so you can still shop even if you don’t feel like doing u-pick.
Insider tip: Because this farm’s hours and offerings can vary by season and weather, double-check their website or social channels before you go (Hickory Ridge Farm site).
Beasley’s Farm Market: Greens, Roots & Local Staples
If your idea of a perfect market is a no-fuss stand piled high with vegetables, Beasley’s Farm Market on Indian River Road should be on your list. As highlighted on the city’s farmers markets guide, Beasley’s is one of the local farm markets offering vegetables, fruits, pumpkins, plants, herbs, local honey, jams, jellies, and more in season (Chesapeake farmers markets overview).
Locals rely on Beasley’s especially for leafy greens and cool-weather crops. A neighbor on Nextdoor raved that Beasley’s has an “amazing selection of collards, kale, cabbage, spinach & chard” and noted that the greens are healthy and reasonably priced (local neighborhood recommendation). A Groupon profile describes the shop as boasting “fine, selected produce and various packaged foods” and encourages shoppers to stock up on ingredients for home cooking, pointing out that there’s convenient parking right on site (Beasley’s Farm Market profile).
What to buy: Think collards, kale, cabbage, squash, seasonal fruits, and basics like potatoes and onions, plus locally made pantry items. This is a great stop if you’re planning a big home-cooked meal and want the vegetables to come from somewhere more personal than a supermarket chain.
Insider tip: Because Beasley’s is a straightforward farm market rather than an event-style farmers market, it’s an easy add-on stop when you’re already out running errands on the south side of Chesapeake.
Bonus: Midweek Market at the Chesapeake Health Department
While not a traditional farm stand, the Chesapeake Health Department’s Wednesday farmers market is worth mentioning if you’re trying to pack more local produce into your week. A 2025 release from the Virginia Department of Health notes that this market focuses on locally grown, in-season produce alongside classic market fare like baked goods, fresh eggs, honey, jams, snacks, dog treats, natural beauty products, and more, with rotating food trucks bringing coffee and lunch options (VDH market announcement).
It’s a smart option if you can’t make the weekend markets or want a quick midweek restock of fresh vegetables.
Making the Most of Chesapeake’s Fresh Stops
Some quick tips before you plan your market route:
- Go early: As one reviewer of the City Park market put it, it “pays to shop early,” since the best-looking produce tends to disappear fast (review highlight).
- Check dates and seasons: Markets like the Chesapeake Farmers’ Market at City Park are seasonal, and u-pick farms such as Mount Pleasant and Hickory Ridge change offerings throughout the year.
- Follow on social media: Many of these markets announce what’s “just picked” or which vendors are attending on Facebook or their websites.
- Bring bags and a cooler: If you’re planning to hit more than one spot, a cooler in the car keeps berries, greens, eggs, and meats in good shape.
From structured weekend markets to quiet roadside stands and full-service u-pick farms, Chesapeake’s fresh stops make it surprisingly easy to build your meals around local ingredients. Plan a morning, grab your reusable bags, and taste how much better dinner is when you know exactly where it was grown.