Arlington County Board Approves Fairlington Farmers Market

The Arlington County Board today voted to approve an open-air farmers’ market at the Fairlington Community Center (3308 S. Stafford St.). The market is expected to open in April 2015 and operate on Sundays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. through November. Here’s all the scoop, from the news release:

“It’s a great idea to have a farmers’ market at the Fairlington Community Center, where hundreds of residents will be able to walk to it and enjoy the fresh, locally grown foods,” said Arlington County Board Chair Jay Fisette. “When this market opens in April, our small County will have nine farmers’ markets – evidence of the growing popularity here and across the country for eating fresh and eating local.”

Watch a video here of Saturday’s discussion at the board meeting.

Around 15-20 vendors, with up to 29 tents, are expected to offer fruits and vegetables; baked goods; dairy products; flowers; and specialty foods, all from local producers within a 125-mile radius of Arlington County.

The Board voted unanimously to approve a Use Permit that will allow the non-profit Field to Table, Inc., to operate the producer-only market. The market will be located on a pedestrian path that runs along the rear of the Fairlington Community Center, on a temporarily blocked-off area of the center’s parking lot. Field to Table, Inc. also runs the Westover Farmers’ Market, which opened in April 2012 and operates Sundays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., May through November, and 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. December through April.

This new market will be Arlington’s ninth. Others include: Arlington’s Farmers’ Market, Ballston Farmers’ Market, Clarendon Farmers’ Market, Columbia Pike Farmers’ Market, Crystal City Farmers’ Market, Rosslyn Farmers’ Market, Westover Farmers’ Marketand the Arlington Mill Farmers’ Market.

Ample free parking, bus access

Fairlington Community Center offers ample free parking, with adjacent on-street parking in front of the center and next to the center’s parking lot available for any overflow. The community center is close to several Metrobus lines, and the space is highly walkable and bike-able within and near the Fairlington residential community. There is also a 7-dock Capital Bikeshare station near the front entrance of the community center.

Background
Field to Table, Inc., is an Arlington-based non-profit organization dedicated to building communities throughout Northern Virginia through the encouragement of healthy eating. The organization encourages people to reestablish their relationship with the land and purchase from local farmers and food preparers.

The Fairlington Community Center (formally the Fairlington Elementary School) has been in operation since 1940. The center is open Mondays through Saturdays and offers various facilities and activities ranging from personal training to art classes.

To read the staff report on this item, visit the County website. Scroll down to Item #24 on the Agenda for the October 18 Regular County Board Meeting.