To the delight of shoppers who favor seasonal and local products from small family farms, the Penn Quarter FRESHFarm Market reopened on 8th Street between D and E Streets on March 24 and will offer its hearty fare every Thursday from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm through December 22.
Robert Weland, executive chef at Poste Moderne Brasserie (555 8th Street), was on hand for the opening day cooking demo. New this year: fresh milk and cheese from Clear Spring Creamery and heat-and-eat meals crafted from local seasonal ingredients by a new company, Harvest. In addition, Red Apron, which provides cured meats, will expand its offerings to include hotdogs and half smokes on a bun. Local fruits, vegetables, eggs, baked goods, handmade soaps, orchids and more still will be available until December 22—a day longer than last year, five days more than in 2009.
The FRESHFarm Market, By the White House on Vermont Avenue between H and I Streets, returned on May 5 and closed on October 27. It also offered ready-to-eat food prepared by food vendors using locally-sourced ingredients. New participants this year included Capitol Kettle Corn and The Red Zebra, the pizza maker. We hope to see them all again next year when the market returns every Thursday, from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
For more information, including a full roster of farmers and producers, visit www.freshfarmmarket.org.