The McLean Farmers Market is among four farmers markets in Fairfax County that will soon reopen.

Some of the county-run farmers markets, including the one in Reston, had already returned in phases with coronavirus restrictions.

Now, the McLean one, along with the ones in Oak Marr, Annandale and Kingstowne, will open this month, according to the Fairfax County Park Authority.

More from the county:

When possible, shoppers are encouraged to preorder their items directly from the local vendors. Go to the Farmers Markets website and click on the Vendor Preorder List for a list of all market vendors and their ordering policies. You can also click on an individual market for details on the vendors at that market and preordering instructions.

At the markets, customers are asked to comply with all COVID-19 safety procedures, including limiting shoppers to two persons per household, wearing facial coverings, and maintaining 6 feet of distance from others. There may be a waiting line, and there will be a one-way path through the markets. To give everyone the best shopping experience possible, please consult the 2020 Market Guidelines infographic before your visit.

Starting Friday, June 12, shoppers can head to the McLean Farmers Market on Fridays from 8 a.m.-noon at 1659 Chain Bridge Road.

The Vienna Farmers Market, which is run by the local Optimist Club, plans to reopen on Saturday, June 13.

While grocery stores have been booming with customers during the coronavirus pandemic, many farmers markets in Fairfax County have been closed due to public health concerns.

The county recently decided to reopen three of its 10 farmers markets.

Meanwhile, the Vienna Farmers Market, which is run by the Optimist Club of Greater Vienna, plans to open in June. FRESHFARM, which has a location in the Mosaic District, has pre-order and pick-up options. The NOVA Central Farm Market in Vienna is encouraging — but not requiring — pre-orders.

When Gov. Ralph Northam issued restrictions for non-businesses in March — which are still in effect for Northern Virginia — some people wondered why farmers market weren’t included in the list of essential businesses. Northam’s orders placed the same restrictions on farmers markets as restaurants.

Now, some groups are pushing Northam to classify farmers markets as “essential.”

Let us know in the poll below what you think.

Photo by Jakub Kapusnak/Unsplash

As Virginia prepares to reopen, the Vienna Farmers Market has an official opening date in June.

Unlike nearby farmers markets that are run by the county, the Vienna Farmers Market is managed by volunteers from a local nonprofit — the Optimist Club of Greater Vienna.

In pre-COVID-19 times, the farmers market would have opened May 2, Michele Wright with the Optimist Club told Tysons Reporter. But Gov. Ralph Northam’s orders telling people to stay home until June 10 and closing down non-essential businesses caused the group to delay the opening.

“In order to open it, we are following the Virginia Department of Agriculture’s guidelines,” Wright said, adding that volunteers and vendors will have face shields, face masks and gloves.

So far, the plan is to have one entrance and one exit and to allow no more than 30 people at a time, she said, adding that vendors’ tents will be 10 feet apart.

“Everyone has to wear a face mask,” she said. “I don’t care whether they believe in it or not.” If people make a fuss about the masks, she said she won’t shy away from calling the police.

Shoppers can expect hand sanitizer, but won’t be able to pick up and feel vegetables or touch the goods. Wright said it will instead be “point and bag.”

Credit cards will be preferred to limit contact. “Cash is a conveyor of germs,” Wright said.

The money raised from the vendors’ fees goes toward community events, Second Story and scholarship funds, Wright said: “Everything is really designed to bring out the best in kids.”

To help vendors who have struggled without the farmers market, Wright said the Optimist Club is connecting them with food banks.

A drive-thru model won’t work for the farmers market since there is limited space at the Vienna Community Center and police would be needed.

The market will be open starting Saturday, June 13, and will be available every week through Halloween, Wright said.

“We need people to be patient and kind and be a community,” Wright said.

Photo via Optimist Club of Greater Vienna/Facebook

Drive-Thru Testing Site in Falls Church — “Right by Washington-Liberty High School on Quincy St. is a drive-thru coronavirus testing site. Testing at the site, run by Arlington County and Virginia Hospital Center, is by appointment only.” [Falls Church News-Press]

Vienna Officials Tackle Budget Scenarios — “Because various revenue sources likely will take hits before and during fiscal 2021, which begins July 1, town officials provided the Council with three budget scenarios that calculated revenue losses based upon different dates for when government operations and society at-large return to normal.” [Inside NoVa]

No Reopening Date Yet For Farmers Markets — “Many farmers markets were expected to open within the next few weeks but were indefinitely delayed because of safety concerns over COVID-19, according to Fairfax County’s website.” [Reston Now]

Support Local Journalism! — Our sister site Reston Now now has a Patreon account for $6 or $10/month memberships. If you are able to, please consider supporting to keep the lights on at a local news site. [Patreon]

We recommend people wear face coverings when they are in public settings, especially when it is hard to maintain social distancing, such as in a store. Cloth face coverings should be made of tightly woven fabric and should fully cover the mouth and nose. https://t.co/1XAzn7dOTa

— Jeff McKay (@JeffreyCMcKay) April 14, 2020

(Updated 4:30 p.m.) Fans of fresh produce can find many farmers markets around Tysons with spring almost officially here.

Several markets recently announced opening dates for the spring season.

Though some markets are seeded in tradition, with founding dates over 30 years ago, there are several new options for shoppers that only popped up in the last year or so.

Tysons Reporter rounded up places — including a few year-round markets — where shoppers can score fresh food and locally-sourced items.

The Falls Church Farmers Market at the City Hall parking lot (300 Park Ave) is open year-round and offers shoppers choices from more than 50 vendors, according to the City of Falls Church’s website.

From April through December, the market is open from 8 a.m. until noon. From January through March, the market is open from 9 a.m. until noon.

The Vienna Farmers Market exclusively offers locally-sourced items, according to its website.

“The Vienna Farmers Market is a Certified Farmers Market, meaning that our farmers can provide proof of local produce and take pride in that they have produced the products available for sale,” according to the website.

The seasonal market will operate from May through the end of October for the 2020 season, the website said, adding that hours of operation will be 8 a.m. until noon each Saturday at the Vienna Community Center (120 Cherry Street SE).

NOVA Central Farm Market is part of a larger network of year-round markets around the area including ones in Bethesda and Westfield.

The closest location is open on Sundays from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. April through December and 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. January through March at Marshall High School (7731 Leesburg Pike) in Falls Church.

FARMFRESH Mosaic began last year and is located in the Mosaic District (2910 District Ave) on Sundays. It is open year-round but hours of operation vary depending on the season.

On Sundays, the market is open from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. from April through December and from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. January through March.

The Tysons Farmers Market will take place seasonally beginning June 2 at The Plaza in front of Tysons Corner Center on Sundays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m, its website said. Programming at the market will also be family-friendly, according to the page.

This year, the McLean Farmers Market will be open from May 8 through Nov. 13 in Lewinsville Park (1659 Chainbridge Road). Every Friday, vendors will offer an array of locally grown vegetables, fruits, meats, freshly baked bread and other local products from 8 a.m. until noon, according to Fairfax County.

This specific market became a tradition in the area after its founding in 1980, according to the website, which added that many vendors have been setting up shop each season for over 30 years.

Photo via McLean Farmers Market/Facebook

The Weekly Planner is a roundup of interesting events coming up over the next week in the Tysons area.

We’ve scoured the web for events of note in Tysons, Vienna, Merrifield, McLean and Falls Church. Know of any we’ve missed? Tell us!

Tuesday (Sept. 12)

• Mayor at Your Service — 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall (127 S. Center Street) — Susan Shaw from the Virginia Department of Transportation along will join Town of Vienna Mayor Laurie DiRocco to discuss the I-66 expansion project near the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metro station. The event is free and open to the public.

Wednesday (Sept. 11)

• Canvas Painting — 7-9:30 p.m. at Muse Fairfax (2920 District Avenue, Suite 100) — An instructor will teach attendees how to paint a road and nature scene. The event is $35 and open to all ages.
• Yoga with Alyson — 10 a.m. at Caboose Tavern (520 Mill Street NE) — For $10, participants can take part in a yoga class. All experience levels are welcome and guests should bring their own mats.

Friday (Sept. 13)

• DMV 2 Go Full-Service Bus — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Falls Church City Hall parking lot (300 Park Avenue) — The Department of Motor Vehicles will host a pop-up full-service office, helping people to obtain identification cards. The service will also help people apply for various licenses including fishing and hunting, driving permits, ordering disability placards and registering to vote.

Saturday (Sept. 14)

• Red Cross Wilderness First Aid — 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Campaign Pay It Forward (9893 Georgetown Pike, Suite 105 — This two-day training course prepares attendees for dangerous wilderness scenarios and how to take care of medical emergencies in the field. It costs $150 and everyone is welcome.
• Vienna Quarterly Recycling Day — 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Northside Property Yard (600 Mill Street NE) — People can come and recycle unusual items such as chemicals, appliances or small electronics. No TVs or dangerous items will be accepted.
• Comedy and Cocktails — 8 t0 10 p.m. at Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street A) — North American Comedy Distillery Tour will bring nationally known comedians to Falls Church for an evening of humor. Presale tickets start at $20.
• 2019 Wolf Trap Ball: Singapore — 7 p.m. at Filene Center (1551 Trap Road) — This black-tie gala supports Wolf Trap’s arts and cultural foundation while allowing guests to enjoy a classy evening with Singapore Ambassadors Ashok Mirpuri and Gouri Mirpuri. Email Wolf Trap for tickets.

Sunday (Sept. 15)

• Tysons Farmers Market — every Sunday through November from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at 1961 Chain Bridge Road — The weekly farmers market features local produce, meats, eggs, hot foods, baked goods and more. In addition to food, attendees can enjoy live music, cooking demonstrations and kids events. The market accepts SNAP and matching on all SNAP purchases.

Image via Wolf Trap

The Weekly Planner is a roundup of interesting events coming up over the next week in the Tysons area.

We’ve scoured the web for events of note in Tysons, Vienna, Merrifield, McLean and Falls Church. Know of any we’ve missed? Tell us!

Tuesday (Aug. 13)

• Stray Cats 40th Anniversary Tour — 8-11 p.m. at Wolf Trap (1551 Trap Road) — The band will celebrate its 40-year anniversary with a performance. Tickets start at $35.

Wednesday (Aug. 14)

• Wednesday West Coast Swing Lessons and Dance — 8 p.m. at Latin Dancer Studio (1057 W. Broad Street, Suite 221) — This event invites newbies and seasoned dancers alike to join lessons and an open dance floor later in the evening. Tickets are $15 for a lesson or just $10 after 10 p.m. for the social dance.

Thursday (Aug. 15)

• Karaoke Thursday! — 8-11 p.m. at Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street) — This locally owned distillery opens their doors for patrons to come to sing and enjoy some spirits.

Friday (Aug. 16)

• The Slambovian Circus of Dreams and Lumen Jingos — 8 p.m. at the Jammin Java (227 E. Maple Avenue) — The bands take to the stage for an evening of live music. Both bands have been described as “psychedelic.” Tickets are $25.
• McLean Famers Market — 8 a.m. at Lewinsville Park (1659 Chain Bride Road) — This event will feature fresh veggies and food from local vendors.

Saturday (Aug. 17)

• Family Bingo Party With Food for Others — noon-3 p.m. at Brandbox Lounge at Tysons Corner Center — Food for Others will host an event to raise awareness for their cause while attendees play games and win prizes.

Photo via The Slambovian Circus of Dreams/Facebook

People outside Tysons Corner Center might have noticed a farmers market last Sunday (June 9).

Community Foodworks announced on Friday (June 7) that the Tysons Farmers Market relocated from 8400 Westpark Drive to The Plaza.

Community Foodworks, a nonprofit that works to connect food from farmers to underserved populations, operates 15 farmers markets in Northern Virginia and D.C.

Vendors at the Tysons Farmers Market include:

• Chilanga — traditional Mexican food
• District Coffee
• Great Valley Farm — fresh produce from the Shenandoah Valley
• H.T. Krantz Honey Company
• Ignacio’s Produce
• Manaeesh — Mediterranean food from the Middle East
• MJ Pet Bakery
• Pinch — gourmet Chinese dumplings
• Taste of Istanbul — Turkish dishes
• Tyson Farm and Orchard — fruits and vegetables grown in West Virginia

The Tysons Farmers Market runs from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sundays through November.

Image via @tysonsfoodworks/Instagram

The McLean Farmers Market came back to Lewinsville Park today (May 3), selling local fruits, vegetables, baked goods and drinks for the spring, summer and fall.

The farmers market, which features 20 vendors, will take place at 1659 Chain Bridge Road every Friday from 8 a.m.-noon. until November 15. The farmers market will be closed on May 17 due to set-up for McLean Day.

Some of the vendors include Dawn & Dusk Craft Coffee Bar, Grace’s Pastries, Lyn Phipps Plants and Westmoreland Berry Farm. The Master Gardener Plant Clinic at the farmers market will help answer questions about plants.

Shoppers will need to leave their pets at home.

The McLean one is one of several farmers markets in the area. Vienna’s starts tomorrow. FRESHFARM in the Mosaic District started in April.

(Updated 4 p.m.) Fairfax County wants to make it easier for locals to garden and for farmers markets to operate.

As the county gets denser, residents are finding new ways to get in touch with their green thumb. A series of zoning changes planned for discussion at tomorrow’s (Wednesday) Planning Commission meeting would loosen restrictions around gardening and farmers markets.

The proposals would create a new “community garden” use in the zoning code. These gardens could be located on either the ground floor or rooftop and could be considered common open space by right, meaning no additional zoning requirements would be required for approval.

According to the staff report on the amendment:

By expanding the definition of open space to include community gardens, homeowners or condominium associations will be able to establish community gardens subject to the proposed use standards… Similarly, the proposed amendment permits non-residential developments, such as places of worship, office, and other commercial and industrial developments, schools, et cetera to establish community gardens by right as accessory uses in open space, subject to the proposed use standards.

Analysis of community gardens by Fairfax County showed that most occupy less than two acres of land, but gardens proposed above two acres could still be approved with a special permit from the Board of Zoning Appeals.

The changes also remove a restriction that only allows gardens on side or rear yards of single-family residential lots. Gardens could be allowed in front yards, provided they are no closer than 15 feet to the front of the lot and limited to 10 feet squared in area.

The zoning changes would also loosen up restrictions on farmers markets. Currently, farmers markets are a temporary special permit with what the report calls “significant restrictions.” They are currently only permitted to sell seasonal or perishable produce between April and November and only on lots that front arterial streets.

But the report recognizes that farmers markets have evolved substantially since those regulations were written and have expanded the to food beyond just produce.

The new regulations would permit farmers markets for two-year periods and allow year-round operation. The markets would also be allowed to operate away from major roads, a rule that the staff report said half of the existing markets ignore anyway.

The only restriction on merchandise at farmers markets would be that items for sale must be farm products or products derived from a farm, like salsa using ingredients from a farm.

The changes are planned to go to the Board of Supervisors on June 25, and if approved, could take effect by 12:01 a.m. the day after adoption.

“Staff believes that this amendment provides a balanced approach to providing easier access to fresh, healthy food to residents in all areas of the County,” staff said in the report, “while ensuring that the uses of community gardens, farmers markets, and residential gardening are established to be good neighbors.”

Photo via @claire_brunette/Instagram