Town Forces NOVA Central Farm Market To Leave Vienna

VIENNA, VA — The NOVA Central Farm Market is no longer operating in Vienna after a code violation was issued by the town government.

The farmers market, previously located at Holy Comforter Church on Beulah Road, has moved to Marshall High School on Leesburg Pike in Falls Church. The move happened in late September after the Town of Vienna sent a notice of code violation.

Town of Vienna spokesperson Karen Thayer told Patch in an email the code violation was related to a second farmers market operating in the town.

"The Town already has a farmers market that operates outside the Vienna Community Center, and the Town code does not allow a second farmers market to operate in the Town," said Thayer. "A change in the Town Code would require Council approval."

Town staff had asked NOVA Central Farm Market to stop operating in Vienna on May 28. Thayer said staff were informed the market would comply. But on Sept. 19, the town was notified the market was still operating. That's when a formal notice of the code violation was issued.

Town Code Section 18-154.C states:

Notwithstanding subsections A and B of this section, the Town Manager is authorized to permit one private farmers' market or marketplace in the Town each year from May 1 to October 31, inclusive, at a location authorized by this chapter and approved by him, or other public property and only for the sale of vegetables, fruits, agricultural and farm products of a perishable nature grown or produced by the vendors thereof and not purchased by the vendors for sale. Conduct of such markets or marketplaces shall be in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws. All sales must be conducted in person by that vendor having grown or produced the products sold, members of his family or his direct employees. The hours of activity shall be limited to 7:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., Saturday only.

The Optimist Club of Greater Vienna, which runs the Vienna Farmers Market outside the community center, released a statement claiming no involvement with the town's code violation. Tom Bauer, the club's president, noted there has been misinformation on social media about the club's involvement.

"We had no knowledge of this ordinance or how long it has been on the books until this happened," Bauer wrote. "I do know that our club has in no way influenced the Town of Vienna to take this action and would not, even if we could. We have not viewed the Central Farms Market at Holy Comforter as competition and were perfectly happy to coexist with them in Vienna."

NOVA Central Farm Market noted in its relocation announcement that it moved from Marshall High School to Vienna in 2020 due to schools closing for the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Reverand Strand and the wonderful folks at The Church of the Holy Comforter in Vienna came to our rescue," the post read.

As of Sept. 26, the farmers market is located at Marshall High School parking lot, 7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church. It operates year round on Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. April to December and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from January to March.