DC Harvest Market Guide

The Arlington County Farmers Market is a nice year-round market in Arlington, VA, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2009.  It’s located right near Courthouse Metro (Orange Line).  Producers are required to be within 125 miles of the market to sell there, and it is a strictly producer-seller market.

Lots of popular favorites can be found there including Cibola Farms (Buffalo, Pork, Poultry), Blueridge Dairy (yogurt and cheese), and Potomac Vegetable Farms (produce).    There were also a few welcome new surprises such as J-Wen Dairy (milk, cream, yogurt, cheese) and Fields of Grace (cheese).  We also loved the unique artisan breads from Quail Creek Bakery, although we don’t believe they use local ingredients.

This year-round farmers market is well worth the visit. Our trip was during the height of the summer season, and there were dozens of vendors selling everything from vegetables to ice cream — even a crepe stand. The market appears to be managed by the city government of Falls Church, VA. You can find a full list of vendors on their website.

According to their website the market hosts about 40 vendors in the summer and about 15 in the winter.

One important thing we didn’t see anywhere was an ATM.  I’m sure there’s one somewhere — but we couldn’t find it.

Takoma Park Farmers Market is a grower-seller market where you can find everything from fresh vegetables to pierogies! While smaller than the Dupont Circle market, this market has a great selection of vegetables, dairy, meat, eggs, maple syrup, and prepared foods from local farms and companies.

There are several ATM machines near the market, but be warned they all currently charge a nearly $3 fee. The market is metro accessible and there is also plenty of street parking around the market.

This is the biggest farmers market in Washington, DC and it’s year-round. This market has just about everything you could want, including Metro access.

An ATM and a SmartBike rack are next to the market. Vendors will have bags, but many buyers bring their own.

This is a producer/seller only market — which is not all the markets. So you can be sure you are supporting locally grown produce when you buy here.

The pictures on their Facebook Fan Page make this look like a promising little seasonal market!

The Bloomingdale Market is a really great little market.  It is much smaller than the Dupont Circle market, but most are. Despite it’s smaller size, this market is not lacking in variety.  There is a great selection of fruits, vegetables, meats and prepared foods.

Thanks to the presence of Reid’s Orchard and Winery, you also find unusual things (in season, of course) like champagne grapes and other wine vintage grapes and old fashioned berries like gooseberries. As the market has grown the list of farms and food makers has changed up a bit, but only for the better.

The closest metro is New York/Florida/Gallaudet on the Red Line.  Just head 5-6 blocks north on Florida Ave, which intersects with the corner of 1st and R st. NW where the market is.

This is a small, seasonal farmers market — but we hear the quality and diversity is good for a small market.