USDA farmers market open for business

Well, it looks like warmer weather is finally here to stay a while in Washington, D.C. That means city dwellers are coming out of the woodwork for a favorite pastime—strolling through farmers markets.

While I can hardly stand walking through the district’s overpriced, over-labeled and over-hyped farmers markets, I understand why urbanites enjoy them. Farmers markets make them feel closer to their food and the people who grow it, whereas I’m perfectly fine purchasing completely safe and much less expensive food at the supermarket.

I know I can’t harp on farmers markets too much. They allow consumers to get to know where their food comes from and how it’s grown. And, I know Washington’s farmers markets are much different than those in other parts of the country.

Perhaps the most “official” farmers market is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s farmers market. On May 4, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue kicked off the 2018 farmers market season, just days after he celebrated his one-year anniversary as secretary. This year’s opening also occurred during National Small Business Week. The market is only open on Friday mornings and afternoons through Oct. 26.

According to the USDA website, “The USDA Farmers Market on the National Mall is the Department’s own ‘living laboratory’ for farmers market operations across the country. The market offers an opportunity to more than 30 farmers, ranchers and small food businesses to sell their products directly to those who work, live and visit the nation’s capital. Shoppers can find organic produce, fresh cut flowers, homemade breads and locally made foods—from cheeses to dog treats. Breakfast and lunch options are plentiful, too.”

The USDA farmers market showcases a variety of producers. This year’s lineup includes a handful of farmers, a gardener, a rancher, three bakers, four beverage makers, a fisherman, several concession stands, a couple ice cream makers, a hot sauce distributor and another handful of specialty vendors.

Another feature is continuous 10-minute “VegU” education programs that teach people how to grow and prepare fruits and vegetables. I would think these are things that adults should already know how to do, but this is Washington we’re talking about here, folks.

However, USDA’s farmers market—unlike other farmers markets in Washington—has a definition for “local.”

According to the USDA website, “Participation in the market is for farmers and growers who sell what they grow, raise or produce on their farm, and for local producers who make products featuring agricultural foods from the Chesapeake Bay region (including the states of Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia), and preferably within a 200-mile radius of Washington, D.C. This year, small food businesses at the market are using local ingredients (75 percent or greater) sourced directly from farmers and ranchers in the Chesapeake Bay region.”

This year marks the 23rd year that USDA has held the farmers market, which is operated though the Agricultural Marketing Service. Live music is also included at the farmers market and I’ll bet there’s a banjo.

Editor’s note: Seymour Klierly writes Washington Whispers for the Journal from inside the Beltway.