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Comments (8)

thanks for the great farmers market roundup. have been to many of these, regularly. they're great.

it has been rumoured that the dupont market not only imports food from farther away [not a true local market], but that the prices are higher overall than on, say, the Eastern Market one on Capitol Hill. Anyone know more about this?
posted by avianmission on 2008-06-04 17:21:58
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Suburbanites may want to check out the Wash Post, who just did a list of markets in DC, VA, and MD.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/15/AR2008041500740.html

I'm just over the river, so I go to the Arlington Courthouse market, but I'm itching to get to that Dupont one sometime.
posted by ValHalla on 2008-06-04 17:22:11
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We're in a unique position to get produce from Md, Va, WVa, and even Pennsylvania, avianmission--or did you mean more further afield?
http://freshfarmmarket.org lists many (but not all) of the Dupont producers.
posted by ValHalla on 2008-06-04 17:34:37
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At the AFM, producers are limited to 125 miles.
posted by ValHalla on 2008-06-04 17:35:21
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Well I live in VA now, so I frequent the Farmer's Markets closer to home, but I used to live in Capitol Hill and LOVED Eastern Market.

What isn't mentioned above is the Eastern Market is the only year-round Farmer's Market (that I'm aware of anyway) in the DC area. It's possible this has changed since the fire in the original historic Market ... does anyone know? Also curious how the rebuilding effort is going ...
posted by soapR on 2008-06-04 18:07:24
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Dupont is also open year-round. In the winter it's smaller, but still a good place to get root veggies, cheese, bread, etc.
posted by JessDC on 2008-06-04 18:18:25
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I belong to a CSA that distributes their produce at the Adams Morgan Farmers Market. They may not be accepting new customers for the CSA right now, but I can't speak highly enough about them! Even though the Adams Morgan farmers market doesn't run all year round, they still distributed to their CSA members year round. I don't know of any other CSAs the operate the way they do-- you put down $300 and that establishes your "account." Each week you go to their website and choose whether to order a small box, a large box, or no box. You can also add in additional produce, bread, butter, etc. if you like. Your account is only debited what you actually order. It's perfect for us DC-area professionals who travel too much to belong to a traditional CSA (where you get must get produce EVERY week throughout the summer)

Star Hollow Farm: http://www.starhollowfarm.com/store_orderproduce.htm
posted by J-fer Rose on 2008-06-04 18:35:19
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14th & U!!
posted by Nevi on 2008-06-04 18:52:31
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soapR, Eastern Market is still year round. And, there's a new "east" building--a temporary structure with all the old vendors from the old building. It's in a way nicer now on Sat & Sun because the street has been blocked off now for additional vendors..but I still wish the fire hadn't happened! Construction looks like it's moving along...

Eastern Market is my "home" market and it is fabulous. I love the dairy - the best milk and butter -- and there are a couple of vendors that sell good local produce.

I enjoy going to the Dupont Market - a lot of variety.

I want to try the Penn Market and the 14th & U which I believe is all local -- correct?

thanks for the roundup. i've been itching to see more DC posts.

i've frequented the Mt. Pleasant, 14th & U and Dupont markets, as well as Eastern Market, and I can honestly say that Dupont beats them all. 14th &U and Mt. Pleasant are essentially the same, with very little to choose from.

I used to adore Eastern Market, but as I've started to spend more time at other local farmer's markets, i now really dislike it. There are local farmers, yes, but squeezed between people who are selling things that they picked up at Sysco. If I am going to take the time to go to a market, i want to buy something other than what i could get at the grocery store.

Dupont is a great market. They have vendors of all different types of meats and dairy products, (last week and for much of last year, 14th & U had only pork), as well as many people selling produce of all different varieties. They also have at least 2 different bakeries.

I know that the Penn Quarter market is put on by the same group as Dupont, but I haven't made it over there yet.

All of the Fresh Farm markets (Dupont, Penn Quarter, Foggy Bottom) are producers markets, which means that the vendors have to grow/make everything themselves and use locally raised ingredients, etc. , although I'm curious how the new gelato vendor at Dupont fits into that.

U St. and Mt. Pleasant are closer to me, but we usually head down to Dupont just because the selection is so much better. I feel like Mt. Pleasant had more vendors (including meat) last year...

here is info about the gelato vendor.

http://dolcezzagelato.com/

I mostly go to the Mt. Pleasant market because it is just outside my door. I really wish they had dairy there, though. Otherwise, I love the market in Dupont, great selection and quality goods.

In addition to the listed markets there are two fairly new markets in DC:

1) the 14th and U market every saturday from 9am - 1 pm. this is a producers market and has producers from VA, MD, DC, and PA including, pasture raised pork, fresh produce and starter plants, bread, Baked goods, flowers and much more. See the following website to get on the mailing list: http://www.marketsandmore.net/

2) Blomingdale: at 1st and R and Florida next to big bear coffee. Every sunday from 10-2

Also the 14th and U market accepts WIC and Senior Fresh Market vouchers

Star Hollow farms at the adams morgan market is amazing. They offer a service where they open an online market on Wednesdays and you can pick out ingredients freshly harvested that week. They then box them up for quick pick up on Saturday mornings. They even throw in some unsual times sometimes for you to try. You can also order locally made goat cheese and amazing imported olive oil. God... i should do their adverts!

I've been a member of Star Hollow at Adams Morgan for a few weeks now and I love it. Everything in my produce box has been fresh and delicious. Since I travel for work about once a month I also love the flexibility of not having to get food every week. I'm volunteering to help hand out boxes this Saturday. Check it out!

We've gone to the Foggy Bottom market regularly for the past couple of years. It's on the small side, maybe about 8 vendors, but they have all the basic fruits and veggies, two bakery stands, meat, and flowers, and it seems to have expanded a little this year. It's right off the Foggy Bottom metro stop. We also frequented the Dupont market all winter, and even in the off season, that place is amazing!

Now that we've moved over to Capitol Hill, I expect we will be mostly using Eastern Market. I love Eastern Market, but I know that not all the stuff there is actually local - if it's not labeled, and is at all out of season, it probably came from a wholesaler from across the country (One of the vendors had CA strawberries last year) - but you can always just ask!
I'll miss some of the FreshFarm vendors from the Foggy Bottom market, so we're thinking of trying to get to the H Street market to buy from them. Does anyone have any opinions on the H Street market? How big is it?

I love DC Farmers Markets! We get most of our groceries from Dupont. They have great produce year round and although it has been accussed of being a little more expensive than some of the suburban markets, its worth it!

During the week if we run out of milk or eggs well stop at either Foggy Bottom or Penn Quarter. Generally the FreshFarm Mkts are well organized and they are producer only!