A new online food map is making it easier for Virginians to find fresh, local food—from farm-fresh eggs to community gardens and even breweries. Created by Olivia Hathaway, the Food Map of the Valley connects people with nearby food sources across Virginia, helping to support local growers and promote sustainable food access.
Hathaway says the idea came to her during conversations about tariffs and their potential impact on grocery store prices. “People were worried about how tariffs might affect their food options,” she explained. “So I wanted to create something helpful—not political—that gives people more ways to buy local.”
The map has grown rapidly, with community members submitting farms, food stands, and other local resources Hathaway didn’t know existed. Anyone in Virginia can contribute by filling out a Google Form to suggest farms, markets, or food-related programs to add. She encourages not only farmers and sellers, but also locals who know of hidden gems to help expand the map—especially in the “uncharted territories” outside the Shenandoah Valley.
“This is a resource that works best when people share what they know,” Hathaway said. “There’s more local food out there than many of us realize.” A link to the map can be found here.
The map is organized into several categories:
Food Sellers: Individuals selling directly from their farm or home
Farmers' Markets: Markets offering locally produced foods
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA): Subscription-based models where customers buy shares of a farm's harvest
Community Gardens: Plots of land gardened by individuals or groups
Other Kinds of Farms: Non-food farms like flower or fiber producers
Food Growing Resources: Classes and materials to help people grow their own food
Food Banks: Locations offering free or reduced-cost food access
Wineries/Cideries/Breweries: Locally made wines, ciders, and beers
Once you open the map, you can click on any pin to view details about what’s available and how to contact the vendor. There's also a search bar for keyword filtering. For example, typing “eggs” will show all listings that offer eggs, or you can search “SNAP / EBT” to find locations that accept food assistance payments. Clicking “highlight all matches from my map” will create a glowing ring around all relevant pins, making it even easier to browse.
Hathaway says she’s thrilled by the positive response and hopes more Virginians will use the map to discover local food, support small farms, and reduce reliance on big grocery chains. The resource is free to use and updated regularly based on community submissions.
SOURCE: The News Leader