Anonymous wrote:Ever notice the farmers markets are selling fruits and vegetables that are not even in season around here or anywhere close by?

They usually buy it from wholesalers and what you pay at the farmers market in bethesda is a lot more than what you pay in germantown.

Many of the vendors are not farmers at all but just resellers.

btw, where is a "local" farmer growing bananas around here or have tomatoes in early April and charge 4x what the grocery store sells the same tomatoes for?

I appreciate your cynicism but this is not universal. Several market groups in this area (Markets and More, plus the ones run by Fairfax County) are producer only.

Anonymous wrote:If you can get to it, the one at RFK is reasonable

Was going to mention that. I've found it to be good produce at reasonable prices. However, if it matters to you: I don't think any of it is organic, and I don't think it's all from local farms (but I could be wrong). There's also just a couple (or one?) vendors.

Ever notice the farmers markets are selling fruits and vegetables that are not even in season around here or anywhere close by?

They usually buy it from wholesalers and what you pay at the farmers market in bethesda is a lot more than what you pay in germantown.

Many of the vendors are not farmers at all but just resellers.

btw, where is a "local" farmer growing bananas around here or have tomatoes in early April and charge 4x what the grocery store sells the same tomatoes for?

Anonymous wrote:Farmers markets are by definition expensive, especially in this area. IME MOM’s has the freshest produce I’ve seen in a grocery store.

+1 great produce. Lots of it local. I get most of my produce at MOMs. Love that place.

Wegmans sells organic produce from Spiral Path farms and also seasonal local fruit.

Farmers markets are by definition expensive, especially in this area. IME MOM’s has the freshest produce I’ve seen in a grocery store.

If you can get to it, the one at RFK is reasonable

The cost of fertilizer and fuel went up substantially in the last couple of years. Expect to pay twice what you used to, and the farmer will still take home the same profit. They aren’t raking it in, just trying to maintain.

Fair to whom? What you think is fair may not be what they need for a livable profit margin.

There’s a farm stand at Mass and Idaho every Sat and Sun that I find to be very reasonably priced. It’s small though so not a huge selection and it’s cash only. But I find the quality to be very good.

FWIW, you may want to try hitting your usual market just before it closes. In my experience, some vendors would rather get rid of produce at a lower price than pack it up.

None

They are all overpriced in the DMV and are meant to be an experience not a place to get reasonably priced vegetables. Just go to the grocery store. Giant brings in produce from farms in close by states

Anonymous wrote:IME, there's not a ton of variation in price. How are the Dupont Circle prices in comparison?

I go to Dupont in the winter - so I buy things like kale, root vegetables then. Prices for greens still seem to be okay.

IME, there's not a ton of variation in price. How are the Dupont Circle prices in comparison?

I live in NW DC, and for the last 15 years I have been buying organic produce from a well-known farm from Pennsylvania. They have a stand nearby on Saturday mornings and I have been very happy with the fresh produce. During the winter I go to the Dupont Farmer's Market. I am a vegetarian, so high-quality produce is important.

I have noticed this summer that prices have really risen to the point that I am fairly upset by how much I am now paying at the usual farm stand. The farm emails out a price list every week so that people can pre-order produce (this practice started during the pandemic and has continued). This week I took a look at the price list to figure out what I am doing wrong, and some of the new prices are making me feel like a chump.

I don't need organic produce, but I do love the fresh produce from the local farmers markets. Can you please provide suggestions for markets that are still reasonably priced?

Thank you.