The Joint Subcommittee Studying Virginia's Farmers Market System was established as a result of House Joint Resolution 506, introduced in 1999. Although the resolution was not enacted, the Speaker of the House of Delegates requested that the study be undertaken by the House Committee on Agriculture. The chairmen of the House Committee on Agriculture and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources appointed committee members to form a joint subcommittee. As described by HJR 506, the purpose of the study was to "examine the Farmers Market System management structure and the relationship of that structure to the localities and farmers each market serves."

The joint subcommittee was chaired by Delegate Robert S. Bloxom and held three meetings. The first meeting was held in Virginia's Northern Neck so that the subcommittee could observe a farmers' market in operation, and included briefings from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), representatives of the four farmers' markets in the system and the Farmers Market Board, and Division of Legislative Services staff. During the second and third meetings, both held in Richmond, the subcommittee received public comment, received additional information from VDACS, and held committee discussions. The subcommittee concluded the study by making one recommendation to improve the management and oversight of the markets.