Farmers Market Opens Wednesday Morning

Wednesday marks the opening day this year for the McCutcheon/Mount Vernon Farmers Market.

The market is open from 8 a.m. to noon and located at , 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane, off of Route 1. The market is named after the late Gilbert McCutcheon, who passed away in December and represented the Mount Vernon District on the Fairfax County Park Authority Board from 1992 to 2010.

The market is sponsored by the Fairfax County Park Authority and will remain open through November. Fairfax County Farmers Markets operates on a “producer-only,” locally grown, market system. All vendors are from a 125-mile radius from Fairfax County and must grow or produce all products they sell at the market, according to the county.

The farmers markets offer shoppers the opportunity to ask questions and connect with farmers and producers whose food and plants they buy. Supporting local farmers helps preserve farmland while protecting the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

May produce includes early season harvests of strawberries, asparagus, spring onions, salad greens, radishes, Swiss chard and beets. County farmers markets also feature herbs, peppers, tomato plants and flowers.

According to the county, artisan foods are also sold at some of the markets, including breads, cheeses, beef, pork, chicken, sausages, fresh farm eggs, salsa, hummus, jams, jellies, pickles, honey, pasta, pesto, goat cheese spreads, ice cream and fresh milk and milk products. New products added this year include hot sauce, kale chips and fresh-made mustards.

Click here for a produce guide of harvest times.