Green Living Article (Entry #1): Local Farmers' Markets in Maryland

Prince George's County, Maryland, has many special characteristics. It is home to the main campus of the University of Maryland at College Park, where one is likely to meet a live, fierce Terrapin (the turtle mascot and nickname for the campus community). Best of all for Green Living is the fact that one has several farmers' markets in this county, and not all of them are just Saturday events. However, as a person who crosses many borders, I will include one historic location from Montgomery County, Maryland, in my review here.

I have been a Maryland resident since 1988, when my first of two daughters was born. For a majority of these 21 years I have lived in Prince George's County, although I also enjoy residence in Baltimore City and previously enjoyed living in Silver Spring, in the richer and more famous Montgomery County. The highlights in Prince George's County - apart from my associations with the historic New Deal community named Greenbelt, the Greenbelt Writers' Group, Iguana Review and its highly literate iguanas - are the location of NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) in Greenbelt and USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) in Beltsville, respectively. The latter allows me a segue into the vast amount of information there is to be found in the county regarding farming, and fully functional farmers markets, less than 15 miles form the University of Maryland at College Park, Maryland.

Beltsville:
Beltsville has a seasonal (May to November) farmer's market on Thursdays from morning through 2pm in the afternoon. If you ever wanted to get fresh produce on a Thursday, this may be just the location for you. It is an equally illustrious location on Sunnyside Avenue, on the grounds and parking lot of the USDA's George Washington Carver Center. Now, is that not a great and lovely irony for the name of Carver is associated with multifarious uses of the peanut legume, as well as this famous African-American wanting to help people across the globe access food, and he did not claim many patents to that end! On a visit to this farmers' market last year (2008) I found very attractive gifts (miniature bamboo or lucky bamboo in vases, art, etc.) along with fresh veggies.

There are several off-street market stalls or stands on farms in Beltsville, as of 2008. One well-stocked veggie stand was located on Powder Mill Road, close to the intersection with the famous US 1 (or Route 1) leaving North away from the University of Maryland.

College Park:
The Campus Drive location of this Farmers' Market - perhaps the longest-running in the area within ten miles of the University of Maryland - is also the one I visited most often during the 1990s. It is still open May through November each year but only on Saturdays. There is music or live performances on most market days, usually by school bands or solo performers, against the back wall of the Skating Rink. A few personal attractions at this market included fresh bakery items, flowers (gorgeous ones), herbs, condiments and spices, and my favorite vegetable grown by a farmer in Clinton, Maryland: bitter melon. This is defintely an acquired taste, but offers several health benefits. Bitter melon is a vine, and my farmer told me he got the seeds from a lady who is Phillipino-American. My mom cooked this vegeatble in summer as often as she could; it reportedly balances blood sugar levels too. I have not seen this specific vegetable at any other farmers' markets.

Greenbelt:
This historic city planned as part of the New Deal under President Franklin D. Roosevelt opened its farmers market in 2008 in the apt location of Roosevelt Center parking lot. (History tells us that Eleanor Roosevelt had more to do with Greenbelt's planning and ultimate success than did the President, and a national top-ten high school is named for her in the city). Roosevelt Center (and the Market) is adjacent to the Mayor and Council's Offices - City Office Building to be precise - and to the New Deal Cafe and the Community Center (that used to be the first school in Greenbelt). Farmers from Annapolis, Clinton and nearby farms operate their stands in Greenbelt on Sundays only. I got wonderful deals on butternut squash from a nice couple from Annapolis, and my daughter at college took part of this veggie (surprise, surprise!) and cooked it in her college apartment.

Greenbelt (and Takoma Park, below) have updated web sites regarding their farmers' markets. When I logged onto www.GreenbeltFarmersMarket.org, I learned the dates for the 2009 season are 17 May through 22 November. Also posted were ten reasons to buy local and support farmers in one's community, from a Texas farmer named Brenton Johnson (in Why Buy Local? but in my second attempt at submission, I omitted the list).

Hyattsville:
In West Hyattsville, near the the Metro station (Washington, DC MetroRail), is another smaller farmers' market. The location is not easily visible from Queens Chapel Road or Metro Drive unless signs are placed on the main streets (which is usual when the market is in session). I found the prices at this market most reasonable last year, especially for tomatoes and yams. I have not checked in 2009, but if the Greenbelt information is a guide, one might expect most farmers' markets to be open by 17 May 2009.

Takoma Park:
This last example of locally-available produce within ten miles of the main campus of the University of Maryland, has a claim to fame for not just one, but two, markets and many reasons. Takoma Park is a wonderful community and its politics are very "new American-friendly." The Old Town Takoma Park Market opened in 1983 on Sundays, and was the pioneer in the Washington Metro Region for this innovation.

In 2006, Crossroads Farmers Market opened near the historic one in Takoma Park, Maryland, with funding from the Kellogg Foundation. Before one is struck by any irony or coincidence, please note this grant was won through the Project for Public Spaces (www.pps.org) which, since 1975 has worked in 48 states and 20 countries (mostly in southern Africa) to develop capacity and independence among disadvanatged communities and for progressive projects. The grant program is highly competitive, and Takoma Park (for the "Takoma-Langley Crossroads" International Market) was one of ten winners in 2006. Part of this City's mandate is to encourage minority farming and marketing of their produce.

The web site has adequate information and reveals its generous character on just the first page. The address is given: 7676 New Hampshire Ave., Takoma Park, Md. "Every Wednesday 3pm-7pm rain or shine. June 6-November 14." The Manager is listed as Michele Thornett (and my call got her answering machine) today. Her email is listed: Crossroadsmarket@gmail.com. Finally, much is conveyed in the following details, a bilingual Vendor Application to sell produce, and "Food Stamps, Credit and Debit Cards are gladly accepted." It is best to begin at the main web site: www. TakomaParkMarket.com which has links to a 2006 Washington Post article and the sister Farmers Market in this city.

I know that not all of us are fortunate to have various local farmers markets and centers within 10-15 miles form where they live. My suggestion for those who sorely miss not having this luxury or essential for good health(as you may perceive it): start your own farmers' market. You may consult your City or local municpality for any forms or advice.