Anonymous wrote:I really want to bring my kids to a good farmer's market so they can pick out their own veggies (in the hope that they will be more willing to eat them!).
Any suggestions?

There's a small but good market in Kensington, at the train station. There's usually entertainment as well. Lots of kids and families. actual local vendors.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The market at Bethesda Elementary is a parody of a Farmer's Market. It is a see and be seen place with crazy prices, and many prepared foods. Enjoy if you want but not what I would consider a farmer's market.

Ha see and be seen? I am there every Sunday and I do not get that vibe. Its busy and bustling with lots of vendors. Yes, there are prepared foods and now even a couple food trucks, but there are numerous produce stands, meats, fresh fish, bakeries, etc. Sorry your market sucks.

We got quite often also. I actually find the number of prepared food vendors to be too low. Can't get anything to eat other than a sausage, fried junk (the food truck), pizza (same issue), or wai forever for a crepe.

Produce selection is very good. We usually have difficulty deciding which venodr to choose from.

Prices are high, but you do get quality. Corn was 70c/ear this weekend vs 40c/ear at Giant, but it tasted excellent. Same with tomatoes-- you just can't get that quality at teh store at all. I think I spent $20/week there just on tomatoes!

This is not right in Rockville, but Homestead Farms in Poolesville has a huge selection of fresh fruits and veggies in their store area, and a pick-your-own program all summer (blueberries, blackberries, peaches, etc.) plus farm animals you can feed. My kids love it so much that we go almost every weekend.

This is not quite as close to Rockville as Bethesday, but the downtown Silver Spring market on Saturdays is great, a good mixture of organic (and some non quite organic) farmers, baked goods, organic meats & cheeses, flowers. Next to it is the Fenton Street market where you can buy crafts, artworks, etc. They always have some musicians out to entertain the kids and yesterday I saw a balloon guy. Plus there's the fountain that the kids play in.

Anonymous wrote:Big one at Bethesda elementary every sunday, year round. Bonus is that there is usually live music, sometimes a guy making balloon animals, plus the playground is right there.

This one is way better than the Saturday morning one on Rockville Pike.

They're the same market, with more than 3/4 of the same vendors. (It's run by Central Farm Market.) You're right that on Sundays there are a few more vendors and a different food truck. But it's mostly the same; I treat them interchangeably depending on schedule.

When it was in Mid-Pike Plaza, they also had live music and food trucks. I'm not sure if that's the same now in their temporary digs in the school bus lot on Executive.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The market at Bethesda Elementary is a parody of a Farmer's Market. It is a see and be seen place with crazy prices, and many prepared foods. Enjoy if you want but not what I would consider a farmer's market.

Ha see and be seen? I am there every Sunday and I do not get that vibe. Its busy and bustling with lots of vendors. Yes, there are prepared foods and now even a couple food trucks, but there are numerous produce stands, meats, fresh fish, bakeries, etc. Sorry your market sucks.

+1 probably the best market around for number of vendors snd quality.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The market at Bethesda Elementary is a parody of a Farmer's Market. It is a see and be seen place with crazy prices, and many prepared foods. Enjoy if you want but not what I would consider a farmer's market.

Ha see and be seen? I am there every Sunday and I do not get that vibe. Its busy and bustling with lots of vendors. Yes, there prepared foods and now even a couple food trucks, but there are numerous produce stands, meats, fresh fish, bakeries, etc. Sorry your market sucks.

I also go pretty much every week (year-round) as I live close by. As for the quality - I have been complaining about it this summer as I believe the number of produce stands has gone down considerably since last summer, and the number of non-food, or prepared food stands have increased. I usually go for the fresh eggs and the meat vendors. I love Shane at Liberty Delight Farms, as well as the sausage maker (forgot their name). Yes, crazy expensive, but well worth it for me. The quality of the eggs and meat is amazing. And there is a lady from the eastern shore who sells goat meat - her eggs and goat meat are excellent. She's not there every week though.

See and be seen?? Maybe for the dogs - lots of doggie socializing at the market

I wish there were more produce vendors though.

Oh, and there is free parking at the Bethesda Library a block away.

Anonymous wrote:The market at Bethesda Elementary is a parody of a Farmer's Market. It is a see and be seen place with crazy prices, and many prepared foods. Enjoy if you want but not what I would consider a farmer's market.

Ha see and be seen? I am there every Sunday and I do not get that vibe. Its busy and bustling with lots of vendors. Yes, there are prepared foods and now even a couple food trucks, but there are numerous produce stands, meats, fresh fish, bakeries, etc. Sorry your market sucks.