Sunday, May 1, 2011

Fresh Farm Markets

It is officially Farmer-Market Season! Check out these fresh outdoor markets and discover the best local food of D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

  • Dupont Circle FRESHFARM Market starts April 3rd and it will be open from 8:30 am - 1: 00 pm. The market will also expand north on 20th Street, NW just across Q Street. The expansion will offer shoppers a less congested market and easier access to all 41 farmers and producers. Moving to the new location on 20th Street will be Atwater’s Bakery, Endless Summer Harvest, Four Seasons Nursery, Quaker Valley Orchards, Red Apron Butchery, Smith Meadows Farm and Waterview Foods.
  • Penn Quarter FRESHFARM Market opens on Thursday, March 24 and runs from 3:00 – 7:00 PM. Located at 8th Street, NW, between D and E Streets, this popular market is home to 20 farmers and producers. New offerings this year at the Penn Quarter market include milk, yogurt and cheese from Clear Spring Creamery and prepared heat-and-eat gourmet meals by Harvest Market.
  • Silver Spring FRESHFARM Market opens for the full-season on Saturday, April 2 from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, and will run through the end of December. New to the Silver Spring Market this year are Chef Eloy’s Kickin’ Salsa, Mock’s Greenhouse, North Mountain Pastures and Spring Gap Mountain Creamery. On April 2, for one day only, the market will move from its regular location on Ellsworth Drive between Fenton Street and Georgia Avenue to its temporary home at Gateway Plaza (at the corner of Georgia Avenue and Colesville Road).
  • Foggy Bottom FRESHFARM Market on April 6th at I Street the market returns (at New Hampshire Avenue and 24th Street) from 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM. New to the market this year will be Pleasant Pops and Cedar Hill Farm. The market runs through November 23.
  • H Street FRESHFARM market reopens April 16 and will run through November 19 from 9:00 AM – noon. This neighborhood gem is located at 625 H Street, NE (across from H Street Self Storage) and welcomes Geppetto Catering’s BBQ to the mix this season. Also new to H Street is Mark’s Kettle Korn, who pops local corn on-site.
  • St. Michaels FRESHFARM Market also reopens on April 16 and runs through October 8. The market is located in Muskrat Park and is open 8:30 – 11:30 AM. Wadespoint Farm will be new to the market.
  • The Annapolis FRESHFARM Market will be open on Sunday, May 1 through November 20, 8:30 AM – noon. New to the market this year are Barajas Produce, Black Oak Cut Flowers and Wysong Farm. The market is located downtown in the Donner parking lot at Compromise Street.
  • The Crystal City FRESHFARM Market opens on Tuesday, May 3. Market hours are 3:00 – 7:00 PM, and the market will run through November 22. Its location is on Crystal Drive between 18th and 20th Streets.
  • The FRESHFARM Market, by the White House, opened by Michelle Obama in 2009, returns on Thursday, May 5, 3:00 – 7:00 PM. The market is located on the 800 block of Vermont Avenue, NW (between H and I Streets). It will remain open until October 27. New farmers and producers at the market this year are Capitol Kettle Corn, Fertile Plains Custom Pork, Rockahock Farm, The Red Zebra and SouperGirl.
  • Bethesda FRESHFARM Market returns for its second season on May 7. The market is located on Norfolk Avenue (between Fairmont and St. Elmo Avenues) and will be open 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM. The market runs through October 29. Sunset Valley Farm will be new to the market this year.
  • The FRESHFARM Market at Health and Human Services (HHS) located at 200 Independence Avenue, SW reopens on Wednesday, May 18 as a lunchtime market, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM. The market will operate through October 26. This year the market will live under large tents provided by HHS. The tents will provide welcome shade as well as bistro tables and chairs for shoppers to sit and enjoy their purchases. New to the market this year are Geppetto Catering’s BBQ, Mark’s Kettle Korn, Panorama Baking, Simply Southern Pies and Sweetgreen’s own Sweetflow Mobile with both frozen yogurt and salads.
All of the Farm Markets offer a variety of events throughout the season, including chef demonstrations and live music. Enjoy a day outside with an outdoor market in your backyard!

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