Whether it’s fighting angry mobs for what’s left on the bare shelves at the Soviet Safeway or if you often find yourself biting into a bitter and spoiled piece of fruit after waiting in a 45 minute “express” line at Giant to pay for it—your nervous and digestive systems deserve better.  However, the trek to Trader Joes is almost as unappealing as the idea of funding Whole Foods’ chief exec—John Mackey’s—radical politics and shady business practices.  Your neighborhood Farmer’s Market provides a low-stress and high quality grocery shopping experience that supports local farmers while keeping its customers happy and nourished.

As a regular at the Mt. Pleasant Farmer’s Market, my weekend goals include peeling myself out of bed before 1pm on Saturday mornings to make it to 17th & Lamont before the market closes.  All the food is locally grown, which makes me feel less guilty about ogling the grass-fed bison meat and splurging on free-range poultry, organic strawberries, and edible flowers.  My favorite item is the chunky homemade applesauce that consists of only three ingredients: apples, cinnamon, and cider.  The baked goods at the Breadline stand rival the ones at Heller’s Bakery across the street.  There’s also a variety of moderately-priced staple foods to fulfill every craving and nutritional need.

DC has a colorful abundance of weekly Farmer’s Markets that are conveniently scattered throughout the city and offer farm fresh and healthy food.  There’s a similar farmer’s market in Dupont on Sundays that’s opened year-round and hosts many of the same vendors and farmers.  If you generally have trouble jump-starting your Saturday mornings, you can always visit the farmer’s market on 14th & U streets on Wednesdays from 4-8pm or at Rose Park in Georgetown from 4-7pm. 

The big kahuna of DC farmers’ markets has always been the Eastern Market on Capitol Hill, which is still up and running after braving a fire last winter and the other misfortunes that it has probably endured since its opening back in 1873.  Not only can you get food at the Eastern Market, but you can also surf the Arts & Crafts on Saturdays and wade through the Flea Market on Sundays.

Food is generally more expensive at a farmer’s market, however, the absence of distracting and pricey packaged snacks like Pepperidge Farm Mint Milano Cookies (a personal guilty pleasure) allows buyers to stick to their grocery list and buy more of what their bodies need.   

Whether you live in DC, Maryland, or Virginia, click here to find your neighborhood’s farmer’s market—the link is from 2004, so make sure you call and check ahead of time.