Specialty Food Magazine is the leading publication for retailers, manufacturers and foodservice professionals in the specialty food trade. It provides news, trends and business-building insights that help readers keep their businesses competitive.
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/62387
Glover Park-Burleith Farmers' Market Freshfarm Market by the White House A typical opening day for a new farmers market might feature a ribbon cutting, maybe even a hayride and some fiddle tunes. But when a farmers market opened in the shadow of the White House in late 2009, Secret Service agents crouched atop farmers' trucks and behind vendors' billowing tents. "It was pretty intense," says market manager Reg Godin. Now that the hoopla has died down, this market is proving quite convenient for all the people who work in the surrounding offices—the very people, in some cases, who are drafting policy that affects farmers. "There are definitely a lot of suits and ties at this market," Godin says. There's lots to stock up on here, including pasture-raised meats, creamy yogurts, homespun jams and chutneys, and some of the most gorgeous produce around, courtesy of West Virginia's Spring Valley Farm and Orchard. Fitting for its location, one of the most beloved produce farm- ers at this market is Calvin Riggleman, who got the idea for his Bigg Riggs Farm while in the deserts of Iraq in 2003, during his first deployment with the U.S. Marine Corps. In fact, Riggleman comes from a long line of farmers; his grandfather planted the first fruit trees on an Augusta, W.Va., farm in 1930. Because this Thursday market tends to be less crowded than a weekend affair, shoppers get a chance to connect with the produc- ers and farmers who sell there. Last summer, market organizers shifted the hours from late afternoon to midday, hoping to attract more people during lunch. Indeed, many shoppers grab a couple of nectarines, some artisanal cheese and a Panorama bakery baguette to enjoy al fresco or back at their desks. You can also expect a steady line at FishScale, where fish burgers made with wild-caught fish are grilled to order over natural-wood charcoal. Glover Park-Burleith Farmers' Market Locals can't say enough about this 4-year-old market, which caters to families who like to cook food that's as righteous as it is delicious. 80 ❘ SPECIALTY FOOD MAGAZINE ❘ specialtyfood.com The vibrant Glover Park-Burleith Farmers' Market features jugglers, bluegrass and even a bike clinic, and it's the place to be on Saturday mornings if you live nearby. The market is run by DC Greens, a nonprofit organization that supports seed-to-table education in the District of Columbia. Executive director Lauren Biel used to work for the Sesame Foundation (affiliated with "Sesame Street")—and it shows in this vibrant market, which features jugglers, bluegrass performances and even a bike clinic. And it's the place to be on Saturday mornings for the Georgetown, Glover Park and Burleith neighborhoods. Not only is it kid- and stroller-friendly (hula hoops, astro turf) but dogs are also made to feel welcome. "It's about so much more than just food access," Biel says. "We want this to be a place for people to connect with their neighbor." "Biel's commitment to the market is unique," says Suzanne Simon, who, along with Bettina Stern (both former publishing editors), runs Loulies.com, a website for fun-loving epicures. Simon and Stern regularly conduct cooking classes at Glover Park-Burleith Farmers' Market using the seasonal, hyperlocal produce that's avail- able. Students traipse from the market to Simon's home kitchen across the street for their lesson, followed by a light market nosh. The market has a great coffee vendor, Pavaraga, which sells family beans grown in Hawaii but roasted not far from the mar- ket. Every week, a different food truck camps out to feed shoppers hungry for lunch, a handy bonus since D.C. markets are not allowed to sell meals prepared on the spot. Chefs often turn up at this market to buy heritage meats (goat, lamb, pork) and poultry from Whitmore Farm, a certified-organic farm in Frederick County, Md. The eye-catching eggs may as well be hand-painted by Martha Stewart. And the meaty dog treats? Organic, of course. PHOTO: COURTESY OF FRESHFARM MARKETS PHOTO: COURTESY OF GLOVER PARK-BURLEITH FARMERS' MARKET