Farmers market season kicks off in Fairfax County later this month

A display of peppers at a local farmers market (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Several county-run farmers markets are returning for the spring season this month with the remainder opening soon after.

The Fairfax County Park Authority operates 10 farmers markets across the county where residents can pick up fresh veggies, fruit, meat, and other locally produced goodies.

“Our markets are strictly producer-only, meaning that all of our farmers and producers may only sell what they raise on their farms or make from scratch,” reads the county’s website.

Three farmers markets are coming back later in April.

• April 19: McCutcheon/Mount Vernon on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to noon
• April 22: Burke on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon
• April 29: Reston on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon

The seven remaining farmers markets will open in May.

• May 3: Oak Marr on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to noon, Wakefield on Wednesdays from 2-6 p.m.
• May 4: Annandale on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to noon, Herndon on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• May 5: McLean on Fridays from 8 a.m. to noon, Kingstowne on Fridays from 3-7 p.m.
• May 7: Lorton on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Each market’s webpage has a list of vendors that are set to be selling. Besides food for sale, many markets will also offer family-friendly activities, live music, and civic-engagement opportunities.

Besides the county-run farmers markets, the nonprofit FreshFarm also has a number of local markets, including three that operate year-round.

• Oakton on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Mosaic District on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Reston on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Two other FreshFarm markets — Springfield and Mosaic on Thursdays — were open last year, but it is not immediately clear if those will be open starting next month. FreshFarm is the area’s largest farmers market operator, and in February, its employees voted to unionize.

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