Silver Spring Market Thriving Despite Recession

The country may still be in the midst of economic recession, but you wouldn't know it from the crowds at the Silver Spring farmer's market. And if the long lines are any indication, there are plenty of customers eager for locally-grown and made goods.

"Our business is up 13% as a whole so far this year," said Eli Cook, Owner of Spring Valley Farm and Orchard, which sells fresh, home-grown produce. 

Cook says despite the sputtering economy, he's seen a steady upward trend in his farm market sales, enough to go from growing 20 acres ten years ago to almost 200 today. One reason, he says, is that people want fresh food, and market customers have come to depend on it. "They know we picked ours this morning," he says. 

Another important factor says Cook is that the customer knows how--and where—the food was raised, especially in light of recent food safety scares.  "You can't get that from a grocery store," he says. "They may not even know what country it came from."

The uptake in local farm market sales mirrors national trends. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced in August that the number of U.S. farmers markets is up 16 percent, from 5,274 in 2009 to 6,132 this year.

Silver Spring's market is held each Saturday morning in the center of downtown, on Ellsworth Drive between Fenton Street and Georgia Avenue. The stretch is blocked off from traffic during the weekly four-hour event while shoppers peruse the twenty-three producer stalls.  Offerings include everything from fresh fruits, vegetables, and honey, to artisan (handmade) cheeses, breads, meats, fresh cut flowers, and even organic gelato. 

It's run by FreshFarm Markets, which operates eleven markets in Maryland, Virginia and DC, including the one by the White House started last year (2009), with the support of First Lady Michelle Obama. 

The Silver Spring market now operates year round, which is also "a testament to the strength of the demand," says FreshFarm Markets spokesperson Pat Lute.  And her stats to back it up: The number of Silver Spring market shoppers this June and July was up 60-90% over the same period last year. 

"That's very impressive, especially in light of how horribly hot this July was," says Lute.

Lute says Silver Spring is a "producer-only" market, which means all vendors grow or make everything they sell (as at all the Freshfarm markets). "You can't re-sell at our market. We feel this ensures quality," she says.  They also visit every vendor's operation to make sure clean conditions are maintained. "We go to the farm, we see the animals, and make sure they are not using growth hormones, etc." says Lute.  "We want our food to represent the best the Chesapeake Bay has to offer. And the Chesapeake area has some of the richest farmland in the country."

To assist senior citizens or limited income residents, FreshFarm's Maryland and DC markets accept EBT/Food Stamps, as well as WIC "Get Fresh" and Senior FMNP checks. Silver Spring also participates in the "Double Dollars" program, which matches those assistance dollars with an equal amount of "market dollar" coupons, which can be used at any market food stand the same day. The coupons are available at the Market Information tent.

The Silver Spring market operates every Saturday from 9:00 am- 1:00pm through December; and 10:00am-1:00pm from January to March. For more information on FreshFarm Markets, please visit www.freshfarmmarket.org.