Does College Park Need a Farmer’s Market?
November 10th, 2006 | by Sarah Stein | Published in Businesses, General College Park | 9 Comments
The idea of a farmer’s market may seem a bit out of context here with the innumerable quick food restaurants, corporate chains, and densely packed parking lots. Here, students about equal the number of normal, home-cooking, child-feeding residents; and the proximity of local farms distances more than the drive to “Giant”. One the whole, perhaps it seems odd to bring such a wholesome, small-town activity into a rowdy college town.
But in all honesty, wouldn’t it be nice to walk down to CVS on Sunday and pass by a fresh-fruit stand, a flower cart, or a table full of freshly baked pies?
The reality is that Farmer’s Markets are intended for more than Sunday leisure. Many markets across the nation focus on different societal and community needs. The Montgomery Farm Women’s Co-op in Bethesda began during the depression by women trying to bring maintain business for local, small town businesses. The organization FreshFarm Markets also runs a number of farmer’s markets in and around Washington. Oakland, California, an ethnically diverse urban area lacking in pubic transportation has a traveling “People’s Grocery”. This bright red truck travels the city, parking in public school lots, parks, and community centers to make available low-price organic foods, products, and produce to local residence.
There are a number of unexpected places in which Farmer’s Markets have found a home. Madison, WI; Fayetteville, AR; and Denver, CO are a number of college towns who received federal grants for Farmer Markets. In these cases, the market has been used to incorporate minority collaboration within community activities. Opportunities to work at the market, buy fresh produce at a low price, and implement the use of food stamps are a few benefits of the Farmer’s Markets.
(Photo is from the H Street Farmer’s Market in Washington, D.C. by Inked78)
November 10th, 2006 at 9:07 pm (#)
College Park *has* a Farmer’s Market. It’s located on Paint Branch Parkway by the ice rink from May-December every Saturday morning.
November 11th, 2006 at 12:28 pm (#)
Upendra is correct, there is also another one fairly close to campus, off of Sunnyside Ave (i think.. it is one of those streets) near BARC.
November 11th, 2006 at 3:59 pm (#)
Clearly we needed to do more research – thanks for posting the comments. Does anyone have more information on these markets they can post?
November 11th, 2006 at 4:10 pm (#)
http://www.mda.state.md.us/md_products/farmers_market_dir.php#prince
Here’s a list of Farmer’s Markets in Prince George’s County from the State of Maryland website. There are markets close-by in Hyattsville, Laurel, and Riverdale Park as well.
November 11th, 2006 at 5:17 pm (#)
A third nearby farmer’s market is at Riverdale Park’s Town Center on Thursday afternoons. A fourth had been at The Shops at Prince George’s, though it may have moved elsewhere this past summer.
November 11th, 2006 at 7:05 pm (#)
I think the intent of the article is to highlight the synergistic effect of a Farmer’s Market **downtown**.
While I am sure the market on Paint Branch is nice, it would be pretty cool to pick up some fresh veggies after breakfast at the Bagel Place on a lazy Sunday.
College Park Farmers Market
5211 Paint Branch Parkway,
on parking lot of Herbert Wells Ice
Rink/Ellen Linson Swimming Pool
College Park, MD
Contact: Phil Miller
(301) 297-9370/399-5485
SEASONAL
May-November
Saturday, 7:00 a.m.-12:00 noon
WIC & Senior FMNP Checks
November 12th, 2006 at 2:56 pm (#)
The Farmers’ Market on Paint Branch is nice and has been there for many years, but I’ve always thought that it would be nice to have it located downtown instead. As it stands, there’s not really an obvious place where it would be located, although I think that a place could be found. Perhaps in the parking lot behind Smoothie King/Hair Cuttery, adjacent to City Hall. Having been to the Farmers’ Market in Madison as well, I think it would be a great thing for College Park.
November 12th, 2006 at 6:27 pm (#)
The City Hall site is slated for condos so that move would be very temporary. If East Campus contains a town square then that would seem like a logical place to move CP’s farmers market – especially if the district is filled with the older crowd the university is hoping to draw. College Park is still suburban so I imagine the farmers market wanted to locate where it is now because parking is convenient….
November 26th, 2006 at 7:28 pm (#)
Funny that College Park’s farmer’s market didn’t turn up in the research for this post. I think the entry should be amended with the new information; the update could also address the question of why it is not located in a more downtown location. The farmer’s market manager proved to be pretty helpful and easy to get in touch with when I had to contact him one time, so the research could start there.