As COVID-19 stay-at-home orders and mask mandates are slowly lifting, many Washington, D.C. residents—especially apartment residents who have been living alone — are eager to find safe spaces outside to meet up with family and friends, enjoy live music and other events, and maybe pick up some local specialties to enjoy at home.

Just walk down any street on the weekend, and you’ll see that Washington D.C. farmers markets are booming as people take advantage of the warm weather and the spring harvests. From the Mount Pleasant Farmers Market Northwest to the Ward 8 Farmers Market in Southeast, here are eight DMV and D.C. farmers markets brimming with local food and products.

Mount Pleasant Farmers Market – 3213 Mt Pleasant St NW, Washington, D.C.

For a D.C. farmers market Saturday, head to Mount Pleasant Farmers Market from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Vendors including Earth Spring Farm and Richfield Farms, which offer seasonal produce, vegetables, dairy and fruit. No.1 Sons has artisan pickles, and Whisked has sweet treats like strawberry rhubarb and key lime pies. You can even pre-order and pre-pay for curbside pickup at the Lamont Street entrance. Recent community events include free COVID-19 testing and “6ft. Aparty” shows.

Eastern Market – 225 7th St SE, Washington, D.C.

Eastern Market is a community hub for the Capitol Hill neighborhood and a destination for visitors from around the world. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, the South Hall Market hosts indoor merchants including Blue Iris Flowers, Canales Quality Meats, and Bowers Fancy Dairy Products. If you’re craving an outdoor D.C. farmers market Saturday (or Sunday), head to Eastern Market all weekend from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Local artists sell handmade creations, and vendors including Honey’s Deserts, A Family of Nuts LLC, and Agora Farms.

Old Town Farmers Market – 301 King St., Alexandria, VA

Held each Saturday morning year-round, The Old Town Farmers’ Market in Alexandria, Virginia is the oldest continuously operating farmers’ market in the country. During peak season, there are more than 70 vendors offering fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, cheeses, breads, pastries, fresh pasta, pickled vegetables, cut flowers, potted plants, soaps, jewelry, and art. Buy artisan goat cheese or goat milk soap from Catoctin Creamery, herb plants from Blue Ridge Botanicals, or fresh pasta from Cavanna Pasta.

14 & U Farmers’ Market – The corner of 14th and U Streets NW, Washington, D.C.

Billed as an urban farmers market and located in the hip U Street neighborhood, this Washington, D.C. farmers market is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Stroll through an eclectic collection of merchants. Grab a warm loaf at Bread Furst, pick up a pint of field-fresh strawberries, asparagus and sugar snap peas from Garner’s Produce, or grab Szechuan dumplings and noodles to-go from The Chinese Street Market Pop-Up.

FRESHFARM Dupont Circle Market – 1600 20th St NW, Washington, DC

Open year-round on Sundays from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm, the Dupont Circle farmers market is one of the city’s most popular. In spring and summer, there are more than 50 local and regional farmers setting up booths. You’ll find baked goods and desserts from Patisserie Poupon, locally grown rice, grains and flours from Purple Mountain Grown, and small-batch Italian herbal liqueur from Don Ciccio & Figli. You can also drop off your compost here. FRESHFARM operates several other markets throughout the D.C. metro region, including the farmers market in downtown Silver Springs, Maryland on Veterans Plaza which is the second-largest producers-only market in the FRESHFARM network.

Falls Church Farmers Market – 300 Park Ave, Falls Church, VA

Open 8am to noon every Saturday, Falls Church Farmers Market in Falls Church, Virginia has more than 40 vendors offering everything from produce, to meat and dairy, to wines, soaps and even popsicles. Grab a cup of coffee at Catocin Coffee, snag breakfast from Mama’s Donut Bites, stock up on seasonal fruits and vegetables from Smith Meadows Sustainable Farm, pickled foods from Fresh Crunch, and fresh cut flowers from Bee’s Wing Farms.

Palisades Farmers Market – 48th Place and MacArthur Blvd. NW, Washington, DC

Operated by the Palisades Community Association, this year-round market offers goods from small regional farmers and ranchers, including Kuhn’s Orchard and Gonzales Farms, every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Groff’s Content Farm offers grass fed beef, Berkshire pork and pastured chicken and lamb. Madison Mushrooms sells a variety of mushrooms from Madison County, Virginia, and Les Caprices de Joelle sells crepes, waffles, quiches and soups.

Ward 8 Farmers Market – 3200 6th Street SE, Washington, D.C.

A D.C. farmers market with a mission, this weekly market located in the parking lot behind Martin Luther King Elementary School makes local, sustainably grown vegetables and fruits accessible and affordable to residents of Congress Heights and surrounding neighborhoods. Visit this D.C. farmers market on Saturdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to buy certified naturally grown vegetables and fruits from Licking Creek Bend Farm of Pennsylvania or artisan bread and pasture-raised meat from an Amish farm. A nutritionist is on-site to answer questions about how best to cook and serve.

Support Local Business with Southern Management

If you aren’t already cultivating an indoor vegetable, fruit and herb garden, having access to a local area or D.C. farmers market is the next best option to promote healthy apartment living.

If you’re looking for a fresh new place to call home, look no further than Southern Management. We have over 25,000 apartments across the D.C.metro region, many of them just a short walk to a great farmers market.

Explore our communities today with a virtual tour, or contact us for more information!