Farmers Market Season Heats Up
The return of warm weather and longer days means many farmers markets that closed for the winter are ramping up for the season. This Thursday, one of my favorite small markets — the Penn Quarter FreshFarm Market — returns from 3-7 p.m. with new vendors including Gordy's Pickle Jar and Soupergirl.
A few more open in April with the biggest pop at the start of May, when 14th & U and Bloomingdale reopen.
So grab your reusable tote and get to a farmers market. Here's a look at when markets are open:
• FreshFarm Markets
Penn Quarter
Thursdays, 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
March 22 - December 20
North end of 8th Street, NW, between D and E Sts. NW
New Farmers/Producers: Evensong Farm – pasture raised beef, pork and poultry including rare heritage breeds, eggs and culinary herbs; Garner’s Produce – this grower from the Northern Neck of Virginia has crops from March through December; Gordy’s Pickle Jar – canned pickles made from local cucumbers; Gunpowder Bison & Trading Co. – a variety of bison cuts; Soupergirl – seasonal vegan soups and salads; The Red Zebra - wood fired pizza using local ingredients.
Dupont Circle
Sundays, Year Round
April 1 – December 31: 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
January 5 – March 25: 10:00 a.m. – 1 p.m.
20th St. NW between Massachusetts Ave. and Connecticut Ave., in the adjacent parking of PNC Bank
New Producer: Soupergirl is now at the market all year long.
Foggy Bottom
Wednesdays, 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
April 4 - November 21
I St. between New Hampshire and 24th Street, NW
New Producer: Soupergirl
Silver Spring
Saturdays, Year Round
April 7 – December 29: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
January 6 – March 31: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Ellsworth Dr. between Fenton St. and Georgia Ave.
New Farmers/ Producers: Bakalava Couture of Silver Spring – sweet and savory hand-crafted baklava pastries; Banner Bee – honey and beeswax beauty products; Capitol Kettle Corn; Chicano Sol – organic vegetables.
H Street, NE
Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 12 noon
April 21 - November 17
Location TBD
New Farmers/Producers: TBD
St. Michaels
Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
April 21 - October 13
Muskrat Park on the St. Michaels Harbor, at Willow and Green Streets, one block from Talbot Street
New Farmers/Producers: TBD
Crystal City
Tuesdays, 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
May 1 - November 20
Crystal Dr. between 18th and 20th Streets
New Producer: Capitol Kettle Corn
By the White House
Thursdays, 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
May 3 - October 25
810 Vermont Ave., NW (between H St. NW and I St. NW)
New Farmers/Producers: Coulter Farms – Mennonite farmer from Pennsylvania selling pork, organic lamb and beef; Fishscale – prepared fish sandwiches with options including local rockfish on buns from Panorama Baking.
Bethesda
Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
May 5 - October 27
Norfolk Ave. at Veteran's Park
New Farmers: Black Oak Cut Flowers; Westmoreland Berry Farm
Annapolis
Sundays, 8:30 a.m. – 12 noon
May - November
Donner Parking Lot, Compromise Street, on the Harbor in Downtown Annapolis.
New Farmers/Producers: TBD
• Markets and More
14th & U
Saturdays, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
May 5 - Nov. 17
Northwest corner of 14th and U streets NW
Bloomingdale
Sundays, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
May 13 - Nov. 18
First and R streets NW
• Columbia Heights Community Marketplace
Saturdays, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
May 12 - Dec. 15
14th Street and Park Road
• Georgetown Farmers Market at Rose Park
Wednesdays, 3-7 p.m.
May - October
• Mt Pleasant Farmers Market
Saturdays, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
May 5 - Nov. 17
• Capital Harvest on the Plaza
Fridays, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Opening TBA
• Eastern Market Farmers Line
Saturdays and Sundays
• Bethesda Central Farm Market
Sundays, year-round, 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Elm Street between Wisconsin and Woodmont Avenues
• Arlington Farmers Market
Saturdays 8 a.m. - noon April through December, 9 a.m. - noon January through March
Adjacent to the Arlington County Courthouse parking lot, at the intersection of N. Courthouse Rd. and N. 14th St.
• Old Town Alexandria Farmers Market
Saturdays, 5:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. year-round
301 King St., Market Square
For more, LocalHarvest.org has a great database of markets closest to you.