National Farmers Market Week: Support HoCo Market Vendors

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The first week of August marks National Farmers Market Week, and there's no better time to visit Howard County farmers markets and support local producers.

This year, National Farmers Market Week from Aug. 1 to 7 celebrates the resiliency of farmers markets during the COVID-19 pandemic. Amid challenges with conventional food supply chains at the start of the pandemic, farmers markets stepped up to meet a growing interest in local foods. Markets adapted to restrictions with social distancing, regulating traffic flow, advance ordering systems and more for the safety of vendors and shoppers.

The annual National Farmers Market Week celebration is coordinated by the Farmers Market Coalition, a nonprofit providing training, technical assistance and network-building to farmers markets nationwide.

Fresh Maryland-grown fruit and veggies, homemade baked goods, seafood and more can be unearthed at several Howard County farmers markets.

The farmers market in the parking lot of the Howard County Library's Miller branch at 9421 Frederick Road in Ellicott City has vendors on hand every Wednesday through Nov. 3 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The farmers market located at the Howard County Library's East Columbia branch at 6600 Cradlerock Way remains open until Nov. 11. It operates from 2 p.m to 6 p.m. every Thursday.

On Saturdays through Nov. 6, the farmers market at Clarksville Commons, 12250 Clarksville Pike, will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Maple Lawn Farmers Market at 7405 Maple Lawn Blvd. in Fulton will be open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Nov. 6.

On Sundays, the farmers market at Oakland Mills Village Center located at 851 Robert Oliver Place in Columbia will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Nov. 7.