Vienna Farmers Market Sees Record Vendor Participation In 2024

VIENNA, VA — Warmer weather signals the upcoming return of the Vienna Farmers Market for the season. In 2024, the farmers market will open with more vendors than ever and full capacity.

Monica Isaac, a manager for the farmers market with the nonprofit Optimist Club of Greater Vienna, told Patch this year's market has about 25 percent more vendors and a wait list. A vendor map shows at least 26 vendors confirmed for the 2024 market.

"We're building off the momentum we built last year," said Isaac.

The farmers market will open for the season on Saturday, May 4 outside the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St SE, Vienna, VA. It will be open Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon through October.

The farmers market is at capacity with vendors and will let wait list vendors fill in spaces when available. Isaac said one notable trend has been an increase in prepared foods showcasing a variety of cuisines. At the farmers market, cuisines represented are Vietnamese, French, Peruvian, Bolivian, Salvadorean, Mexican, Lebanese, Turkish and Balkan.

"That's a wide variety. You can almost think of it as the United Nations of food," said Isaac.

The farmers market is a producer-only market with vendors largely coming from Northern Virginia and Southern Maryland. Many of them are multi-generational family businesses, Isaac says.

"They are sharing culture with the community without [customers] having to travel far," said Isaac. "Many farmers offer produce special to regions of the world."

One returning service at the farmers market is the "pooch parking." Under Virginia health code, no animals other than service animals can enter the market. Farmers market organizers recognize customers walk around with their pets and may want to visit the market. Customers can leave their pets in the care of market volunteers while shopping.

"Our volunteers are very pet loving. We will have treats, water and shade [for pets]," said Isaac.

Live music with local musicians will return in 2024. A full schedule is available on the farmers market website.

The farmers market has three objectives, according to Isaac: support local businesses, facilitate a family-friendly environment and foster community. Proceeds from vendor fees support youth programs, including scholarships, programs for the deaf and hard of hearing, youth activities such as Madison High School's all grad night. The market is run by volunteers from the Optimist Club of Greater Vienna and receives support from the Town of Vienna staff and Town Council.

"[If] people want to come to the market to come outside in a family-friendly environment with incredible diverse offerings, that's certainly [possible]," said Isaac.

The farmers market is located off the Washington & Old Dominion Trail and has parking at the community center. The Vienna Volunteer Fire Department continues to offer its parking lot for farmers market patrons.