If you find yourself in the one-time Capital of the Confederacy, you might not be familiar enough with the area to know where to buy your groceries. Luckily for you, we've got some tip and suggestions that will ensure that your trip to Richmond, VA is full of good food and good times.

Like any growing city, Richmond's got a lot to offer just about anyone. But even though we now have our very own Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, there are things unique to Richmond that you might want to experience. Added to the fact that those things mentioned above are technically in Short Pump, Virginia, which is a suburb of the counties around Richmond city. In other words, those things are about 30 minutes away from the city's center.

For instance, even though we love Whole Foods and Trader Joe's, we have our very own Tom Leonard's Farmer's Market (also located in Short Pump) that has fresh produce and meat, along with some great breads and baked goods. Tom Leonard is the son of Stew Leonard, who has a store up in Connecticut. Tom has been in the business pretty much since he was born, helping out at the family store at the tender age of 5 years old. Tom Leonard's is THE place to go to buy your Halloween pumpkins and your Christmas tree. They buy the freshest, most recently harvest pumpkins and Christmas trees to ensure that your holiday decoration stays fresher longer. Plus, the place is fun to visit, with animatronic dogs playing banjo-driven country songs, free bits of fresh bread, fresh cheese, fresh fruit, and fresh veggies to sample, and friendly customer-service-driven staff. Tom himself will come out and chat you up from time to time, making the whole experience a real delight. Ask him which products are locally-grown, because he uses local vendors quite a bit.

For totally organic and locally grown produce, Tom Leonard's is a good place to check, but Ellwood Thompson's is the place to make sure. All local produce is labeled as such, and not only do they try to provide totally local produce, they support the Virginia economy by choosing local vendors whenever possible. They are Virginia's biggest independent natural market, and they sell loads of holistic and environmentally-friendly products including essential oils, dietary supplements, vitamins, personal care items, and more. The people who work there usually practice what they preach, and are a wonderful resource if you have questions or need help.

Ukrop's is a Richmond-based grocery store that offers some of the best pre-made food and baked goods around. Their produce is consistently good and fresh, their meats are always top-notch, and their service is unparalleled in the Richmond area. Ask someone who works at Ukrop's where to find something and they won't only tell you, they'll show you where it is. If you are expecting a big crowd unexpectedly, check out the Fresh Food section for a gourmet meal that will impress anyone. Ukrop's is also extremely civic-minded, and do a lot to help out the community. They also use local vendors whenever possible, and they support other growers networks to support the farming community as a whole. They are environmentally-conscious, providing a recycling area for old bags, and they compost any waste they possibly can.

As you can see, Richmond has many wonderful places to shop for groceries that concentrate on supporting the local economy and sustainability.