As the Mosaic District moves forward with plans to relaunch its weekly farmers market, the old market’s leadership is starting a competing market four miles away.
The Mosaic District announced in early March that the nonprofit FRESHFARM would be taking over the Mosaic Farmers Market.
Central Farm Markets, the organization that for the last six years had managed the farmers market at the Mosaic District, said on their website that the announcement was a shock to them.
“We were told, with just a few weeks notice and for no reason, that we had to leave the property,” the organization said on their website. “As you can imagine this has been a very difficult time for us and our vendors. In a matter of weeks we had to find a new location, enroll vendors and take care of all of the business matters associated with such an enormous move.”
Tysons Reporter reached out to the Mosaic District inquiring about the change but received no response.
The Mosaic Central Farm Market was able to find a space at George C. Marshall High School (7731 Leesburg Pike) and rebranded as NOVA Central Farm Market.
Debra Moser, co-owner of Central Farm Market, said many of the vendors from the earlier Mosaic venue will carry over to the new location, and the arrangement with local non-profits to pick up left over food and deliver it to those in need will continue.
Both markets are planning a grand opening this Sunday (April 7).
Moser said Central Farm Market was never given a reason for why they were replaced.
“Moving a market, getting it reestablished in a short period of time was a great undertaking,” Moser said. “But we’re looking forward to the opening on Sunday.”
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D.C.-based nonprofit FRESHFARM will be taking over the Mosaic Farmers Market and is planning a market season kick off for April 6 and 7.
According to a press release from FRESHFARM, the market will operate every Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature over 50 regional farmers and vendors selling fresh produce, bread, meat and other farmers market staples. The market is scheduled to run through December.
Current market vendors offer selections from crepes to candles and one vendor, Chase Your Tail Bakery, that makes handcrafted dog biscuits.
“The Mosaic Farmers Market is a vibrant part of this thriving community, and we were honored that EDENS invited us to join them in bringing delicious, locally grown and produced food to Mosaic District,” Julia Feder, executive director of FRESHFARM, said in the press release. “We look forward to getting to know the residents, visitors, and local businesses in the Mosaic neighborhood this season.”
FRESHFARM operates 16 farmers markets throughout the region, with an emphasis on locally sourced food.
That same weekend, the Mosaic District is also scheduled to host the “Art Blooms at Mosaic” festival, a cherry blossom event in partnership with the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
Photo via @claire_brunette/Instagram
Get the fresh fruit and veggies while you can, because several local farmers markets will be closing for the season next month.
In and around Tysons, there are at least four weekly farmers markets to choose from:
- Tysons Farmers Market (last day: Sunday, Nov. 18)
- McLean Farmers Market (last day: Friday, Nov. 16)
- Vienna Farmers Market (last day: Saturday, Nov. 3)
- Mosaic Central Farmers Market (year round)
The Tysons Farmers Market is held Sundays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the National Automobile Dealers Association parking lot (8400 Westpark Dr). Organized by Community Foodworks, the market features a variety of vendors offering everything from empanadas to coffee to fresh produce.
Like the Tysons market, the McLean Farmers Market starts up for the season in May and closes in mid-November. There are four market days left for the popular McLean bazaar of locally-produced food, which is held every Friday from 8 a.m.-noon in Lewinsville Park (1659 Chain Bridge Rd).
In addition to a variety of vendors, the Master Gardener Plant Clinic sets up at the McLean market to help locals learn more about the vegetation of their yards.
The Vienna Farmers Market, meanwhile, will not be open this weekend, according to its website. There’s only one market day remaining before the Vienna market closes for the season: Saturday, Nov. 3, from 8 a.m.-noon.
For those in the area who need to get their farmers market fix year round, the Mosaic District hosts a weekly farmers market on Sundays that runs through the winter. Mosaic Central Farmers Market is held at 2910 District Ave from 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. — that is, until the end of December.
From January to March, the market shifts to a winter market, with modified hours and 40 vendors instead of the usual 55, according to its website.
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