Farmers’ Markets...
…are an important source of fresh, nutritious food for urban residents and a key asset of many vital and active communities within the city.
Many low-income neighborhoods in the District of Columbia have few, if any, food retail outlets that sell fresh produce. Farmers’ markets have potential to reach low-income consumers in “food deserts” and improve their nutrition. Farmers’ markets have low start-up costs and flexible models, which enable them to be responsive to the needs of a community. They can provide low-income consumers with: a venue for using federal nutrition program benefits to purchase fresh produce; nutrition education and ideas on preparing foods; and a place to build community.
While there is great opportunity, a number of factors must be addressed before low-income people can come to rely on farmers’ markets for affordable produce. Just as there is a dearth of grocery stores in low-income neighborhoods, few farmers’ markets operate in these neighborhoods; only two of the city's 22 farmers' markets – the Ward 8 Farmers’ Market and the Riverside Market – are located east of the Anacostia River in Wards 7 and 8.
What’s happening with farmers’ markets in D.C.?
Nine Farmers' Markets in D.C. Now Accept Food Stamps
Markets that now accept food stamps and Get Fresh checks:
- 14th and U – 14th and U Streets NW
- Adams Morgan – 1800 Columbia Road NW
- Bloomingdale – 1st and R Streets NW
- Brookland – 12th and Newton St. NE
- Mount Pleasant – Lamont St. and Mt. Pleasant St. NW.
- RFK Open Air – 2700 Benning Road NE
- Riverside/Heritage Park – 601 Division Avenue NE
- Ward 8 Farmers’ Market – Alabama Avenue at 6th Street SE
- FRESHFARM H Street Market – Between 609 and 625 H St NE
In 2008, D.C. Hunger Solutions began a project, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers’ Market Promotion Program, to enable District farmers’ markets to accept food stamps. With the help of the Farmers’ Market Collaborative, we provided markets with training, application assistance, wireless Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) machines, stipends, and outreach materials.
Bus Shelters are Home to New Farmers' Market Advertising Campaign
Shop at a farmers' market - and use your food stamps too. That's the message of a new advertising campaign by the D.C. Farmers' Market Collaborative that was displayed in fifteen bus shelters across the city. Click here to see the ad (pdf). Aimed at raising awareness of farmers' markets in D.C., the ads also highlight the markets in the District that currently accept food stamps. The ads were developed by the D.C. Farmers' Market Collaborative, with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority generously donating space for the ads.
Ads were placed at the following shelters:
- H Street & North Capitol Street NW;
- North Capitol Street & Florida Avenue NE;
- Mount Pleasant Street & Kenyon Street NW;
- Rhode Island Avenue NS & North Capitol Street NW;
- 14th Street & R Street NW;
- 14th Street & Rhode Island Avenue NW;
- Rhode Island Avenue & Newton Street NE;
- D Street & 3rd Street SW;
- North Capitol Street & H Street NW;
- H Street & 6th Street NE;
- Martin Luther King Avenue & Mellon Street SE;
- 16th Street & Irving Street NW;
- 4th Street & H Street NE;
- Burroughs Avenue & Division Avenue NE;
- South Capitol Street & Malcolm X Avenue SE.
Farmers’ Market Collaborative:
In 2006, D.C. Hunger Solutions reconvened the Farmers’ Market Collaborative – composed of market managers, advocates, and city agency staff – to support farmers' markets and address barriers to bringing more fresh produce into underserved neighborhoods. In fall 2007, the Collaborative began working with District agencies to overhaul the city’s slow and cumbersome farmers’ market permitting process. On October 30, 2007, the Collaborative held an “Eat and Greet” reception at the D.C. City Council building, sponsored by Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham, to introduce the D.C. City Council and staff to farmers’ market stakeholders. In fall 2008, the Collaborative submitted comments to proposed vending requirements.
How D.C. Hunger Solutions can help:
- Provide guidance to farmers’ markets so they can accept federal nutrition benefits – food stamps, WIC, and Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program.
- Collaborate with farmers’ markets and city officials to streamline city processes for markets and establish cohesive city policies regulating farmers' markets.
- Promote farmers’ markets to low-income residents as a source of fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables.
Help us spread the word:
- Join the Farmers’ Market Collaborative.
- Encourage city officials to adopt and implement the Farmers’ Market Collaborative’s policy priorities.
- Learn about Get Fresh, the District’s Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program for mothers and children and seniors.
- Use the DC Food Finder to find a farmers’ market nearest you.
- Volunteer at a farmers’ market.
Farmers' Market Collaborative Members:
- Adams Morgan
- D.C. Department of Health
- D.C. WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program
- D.C. Hunger Solutions
- Freshfarm Markets (Dupont Circle, Foggy Bottom, H Street, Penn Quarter)
- Georgetown Farmers’ Market in Rose Park (sponsored by friends of Rose Park)
- Brookland Farmers’ Market
- Kaiser Permanente
- Markets & More (14the & U and Bloomingdale Farmers' Markets)
- Mount Pleasant Farmers’ Market
- New Morning Farm Markets
- Open Air Farmers’ Market (RFK)
- Riverside/Heritage Park
- Summit Health Institute for Research and Education, Inc. (SHIRE)
- Ward 8 Farmers’ Market
