Armed with nearly 1,700 signatures on a petition to “Bring Trader Joe’s to Woodbridge,” demographic data and several confidential lease proposals from Woodbridge shopping centers, Woodbridge District Supervisor Frank J. Principi visited Trader Joe’s headquarters in Monrovia, Ca. last week.

It’s official. According to a proclamation by Governor Terence R. McAuliffe, Aug. 2-8 is Farmers’ Market Week in Virginia. In the proclamation, Governor McAuliffe says that farmers’ market in Virginia have grown dramatically, from 88 markets in 2006 to nearly 250 in 2015.

Governor Terence R. McAuliffe has proclaimed August as Peach Month in Virginia. In the proclamation, he reminds consumers that different varieties of peaches ripen at different times during the season, so there’s a plentiful supply of fruit throughout the summer months, with peak season in August.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) is hosting a Virginia Pavilion at the Summer Fancy Food Show, June 28-30, 2015, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. Four Prince William/Manassas area businesses will show off some of Virginia's tastiest products.

Students in Potomac High school’s Culinary Arts Program will prepare and host a May 7 Cinco de Mayo luncheon to show off their skills and teamwork to the PWC school superintendent and members of the school board. Customer service is a big part of the student learning experience.

At many farms, cool temperatures in late April delayed this year’s strawberry crop by a couple weeks. But these strawberries will be worth the wait, according to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS). Cooler conditions can help make the strawberries extra delicious. Many farms are expecting a bumper crop of berries this season.

The farmers' market at the Tackett's Mill shopping center in Lake Ridge was a hit when it opened in 2014 and it is reopening for the 2015 season on Tuesday, May 5.

A new HMart supermarket, opened to shoppers at 9:30 this morning, April 25, in the space at Manassas Junction formerly occupied by Giant Food. The new store stocks lots of fresh produce and fresh seafood and many traditional grocery items. Regular hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.