Penn Quarter FRESHFARM Market

Awesome to have a market with great quality fresh foods pop up in the middle of the city. Great place to stop after work. I have found this location to have a great selection of fruits, veggies, breads, cheeses,
flowers — whatever is seasonal.
Hours are a bit difficult for me to make (weekends are more convenient since I don’t live far away), but I appreciate having a weekday option with great selection.

I feel like the size of the market varies from week to week. Today didn’t seem to have as many vendors, but I headed straight to Full Cellar because I support them when they are on campus earlier in the week. This past Tuesday I got amazing tomatoes and peppers that I had to come back today to get more.
For $ 7, I got three big red peppers, one orange pepper, and one yellow-​green pepper along with a small container of cherry tomatoes. The tomatoes are fantastic and come in a variety of colors and shapes. I love how fresh and firm they are. They are delicious on their own but I have incorporated the peppers and tomatoes with eggs this week.
There was also a stand that looked to be associated with Jose Andres and they were giving away «free lamb tacos». I put quotes around that because while they tell you that, they have a suggested donation.
There is also a stand that you can use your credit card at in exchange for tokens but the tokens are valued at $ 5 a piece and there is a $ 2 transaction fee. It doesn’t matter how much you spend, the $ 2 transaction fee applies so it makes sense to get more tokens or you could just bring cash or avoid stands that only accept cash.

Bought some great apples, peaches and nectarines for only 2.99/lb. So delicious, I ended up baking lots of sweet treats. I’d never had donut peaches, or several of the apple varieites (summer rambo and jonamac). I also sampled some of the drinking vinegar, which was really refreshing. Not too expensive either/

There is one stand that has some of the most succulent peaches and nectarines you will ever eat. When I went they had a bunch of samples put out on a table– including melons (also super delicious), apricots, nectarines, peaches, and more. It’s a relatively big one. Go give them your business! You won’t be disappointed.
When I went they also had some samples from Cocina Mexicana, located near Chinatown/​Penn Quarter. Their samples were delicious and I’d love to go eat there sometime.
Overall a solid farmer’s market that’s open on Thursday afternoons.
IS IT CHEAP? Meh, it’s a farmer’s market. But sometimes I like to treat myself to real food.

A nice market but expensive.

Yeah… I love it when the farmers market is operating! It means good weather! I also like supporting local farmers. I just wish there was more of a variety on greens and fruits.

3.5 stars. If you are expecting Eastern Market, you will be disappointed. This is a small, small farmer’s market — but it has a surprisingly large number of fruits and vegetables and a few surprises (cheeses and soaps). I want to support local farmers and Michelle Obama’s mission — so thumbs up for good effort, given the small space constraints in that neighborhood.

In the abstract, it is perfectly reasonable for a farmer’s market to decide to close in the rain. But when the website repeatedly proclaims «rain or shine!» and a hand-​crafted sign just outside the metro station reiterates «rain or shine!» the farmer’s market has forfeited its right to close during the rain. Relying on these insistent remarks, I braved the rain and got soaked, desperate for tomatoes.
When I arrived, saw some tomatoes, and begin picking through them, the proprietor hollered at me as if I was a crazy man: «It’s raining! We’re closed!» I said, «Huh. I thought it was open rain or shine.» The proprietor looked as if she wished she could shoot laser beams at me from her eyes.
You don’t have to be open if you don’t want to be, but don’t lie about it.

Everything is pretty much expensive thing ever. I lived at 701 Penn and would walk through the market for the atmosphere, but that’s it. I’d rather ZipCar and load up at Trader Joe’s at Foggy Bottom.

The Penn Quarter Farmer’s Market is more or less all the goodness of the Dupont market without the intense clusterfuckness. It is expensive, as all DC farmer’s markets are, but is worth it for supporting your local farmers, those small producers that coax life from the earth while you sit in an air conditioned office, typing Unilocal reviews. What’s a few dollars for incomparable sensuality of a summertime white peach, only a few hours from the tree, it’s nectar sticky on your lips?
It’s a lovely way to enjoy a summer afternoon, in the centre of a city, knowing that tomorrow you will be freed from work, the air fragrant with bruised fruit, glossy loaves of bread tumbling end over end, a blooming abundance of tomatoes, smooth brown eggs, a wild tangle of flowers.
My favourite vendor is Red Apron Butchery, which is based out of Arlington and is headed by the former chef from Eatbar. Red Apron carries a variety of house-​cured charcuterie which is impossible to find elsewhere including translucent slices of sopressata, pale-​fatted tesa, and thick slabs of herbed guanciale, from which I made a divine, deep red amatriciana sauce, scented with rosemary, with the 5lbs of tomatoes I bought from another vendor at the market.

I live right around the corner so now I plan my weekend menu around being able to go to the market!
I have to agree with previous posts, the crabcakes are AMAZING. I love to pick them up for a meal, or if I am having friends over I break them up into bite size portions and then whip up a great little sauce! Its such a crowd please, and great bang for your buck!
Other vendors include lots or produce and a fairly extensive bread stand (I haven’t tried anything, but there are loads of great looking things at this booth)

My friend and i happened upon this street market by accident one day. It was pretty sparse but what was there looked great — heirloom tomatoes, assorted mushrooms, granny smith apples, peaches, orchids and a baked goods tent. I am surprised to find it reviewed here and I’m glad it does get some attention. local produce is the best!

This market helps me get through my Thursday.
Yes, it has a smaller selection than say the Dupont or Takoma markets but it is just so nice to stop by on my way to the metro. I love the mish-​mash of people and right now the bounty of fresh everything is enough to inspire me to put some effort into cooking even if it’s hot outside!
My two favorite vendors are the lady with the lettuce that lasts forever because the root bundles are still attached and the cheese lady that has yogurt, ricotta, and mozzarella. (Sorry I can’t remember the names of the vendors, but it’s small enough you can’t miss them!)

I thought the Penn Quarter market was adorable and such a nice treat to find on a Thursday afternoon in the city — especially in this neighborhood dominated by big-​name restaurants. The vendors were super generous with samples, especially the produce stands — cutting off big, juicy chunks of all kinds of fresh fruit right into customer’s hands, rather than pre-​chopping tiny little pieces, sticking em with toothpicks and leaving them to wilt in the hot summer air. I especially loved that the lady gave us two different types of apples to sample, explaining the nuanced differences and then letting us try for ourselves. Mmmm.
Although its small, I thought the variety was great — some unique items along with the usual fruit, veggies, cheese, and meat vendors. Amazingly tasty homemade gelato with one-​of-​a-​kind flavors was brilliantly stored using dry ice! (Although it sure wouldn’t be easy to get it home.) Homemade soaps! Gorgeous flowers! Ridiculously tempting specialty breads and baked goods! (Ok, ok, I admit it… I caved in to the jumbo peanut butter cookie.) Delicious seafood gazpacho! And seriously like a dozen varieties of empanadas (at a bargain $ 3). And I certainly never expected to find what were surprisingly the best crabcakes I have tasted in a good while, sold right there under a tent in the middle of the street.
Well worth a regular trip if you live or work anywhere near by. It sure made me wish I did.

I stumbled upon the Penn Quarter Farmer’s Market when I came downtown to take some pictures for my photography homework. I didn’t buy anything (because I never have cash). Everything looked good though — fruit, veggies, cheeses, meats, breads, herbs and flowers. as well as a handmade soap stand where they cut off the soap like blocks of cheese. If I had cash at the time, I def would have bought some of the gorgeous blackberries.
I have to say, I did somewhat enjoy the randomness of the market being open on a Thursday, from 3 – 7. I work most weekends so I don’t get out to the markets like everyone else.

Living in an area like Los Angeles with so many good Farmer’s Market, I was pleasantly surprised to see on in Downtown DC. And on Thursday, no less! But this is a very small market. It’s not even a complete street block in length. There are your usual fruit, veggie, cheese and bakeries. Probably the standouts to me is the place with the Muffuletta garlicky-​like spread and also the gelato stand. Plenty of samples, of course but you could get done here really quick. It’s nice to see but I’d just like it to be larger.

This is a nice place to go to find picnic/​romantic evening material.
Don’t get me wrong, this place is nice, but its size and overall lack of variety is what gives it three stars. I would have liked to have gone to a farmers market with more vendors because when you do the prices aren’t so high and the atmosphere is more welcoming. I mean come on, it’s located next to a CVS and a major DC thoroughfare.
Enough whining. This place has wonderful fruits and cheese and vegetables and pastries and bread. In fact, my girlfriend and I got a little bit of each and made a romantic dinner out of it. It was one of the best dinners I’ve ever had; just the two of us with fresh products that were grown and made in the area by hard working farmers and bakers.
Unfortunately, I may not come back here seeing that this takes place at such an odd time during the week. Sorry, but I like my farmers markets on Saturdays.

Thursdays are super now that I know about the farmer’s market. I try and duck out of work for 30 minutes to roam the stalls at the market and beat the after work crowds. My favorite part? The fresh flowers… last time I was there she gave me a deal on several stems of gorgeous poppies, and they even have ranunculus if you get there early enough! Fresh flowers and food? Walking distance to my office? In!!!

I initially avoided this farmer’s market since I thought it would be full of ridiculously expensive vendors catering to the rich, snobby yuppies that can afford to live in Penn Quarter. Thankfully it appears to be relatively yuppie free.
This market is expanding and has a few more vendors than last year. I looove the bread people (try the truffle oil infused potato bread) and one of the dudes started to recognize me since I went so often and would occasionally give me free samples or a discount. Sadly he appears to have left, so I guess I’ll have to build a similar rapport with one of the other dudes. I think I’ve picked up delicious produce from all of the different vendors at some point. Have to support them all, right?
I have noticed that the produce in general tends to skew a bit higher than other farmer’s markets I’ve been to outside of DC. That might be related to being in the city versus the burbs and location fees perhaps? A lot of the places are certified organic too, and I know the certification process can be expensive.
They also occasionally have food samples using ingredients found at the market made by chefs who cook at Penn Quarter area restaurants which is pretty cool. They had a ginormous paella pan going one night for the cooking demo.
Overall, a nice market, and it is on an expanding trend, so hopefully we’ll see even more vendors showing up. Good place to go to pick up some mid-​week items.

This is a great farmer’s market to check out. I used to live right on 8^th St and coming home on Thursdays was always a treat. Not only are the fruits, vegetables, and herbs gorgeous, they also have other treats like baked good (more on this later), candles, soaps, dairy products, and meat, too.
One time last year Café Atlantico (which is also on 8^th St) gave out samples of guacamole and some fruit drink thing.
Ok now for the bread guy. I dont know his name, but he’ll «bargain» with you if you flash some cash in front of his face. His bread is to die for… there’s this one Italian-​style one (I think it’s italian) but it has some golden raisins and this very subtle sugar coating (it’s like a glorified donut, but not greasy). OH MY GOSH you have to try it. mmmmmmm I’m tempted to jump on the metro right now and get some. He also has muffins, pies, tarts, danish type things. Oh man. Ok I am salivating right now. He will even CUT THE PIE or RIP THE LOAF of bread if you don’t want it all! How cool is that?
hmmm I wonder if he’d give me free goods if he knew I was raving about his stuff on Unilocal?
Remember: you are helping out local farmers and the prices are not Giant/​Safeway prices! This is as fresh as it gets, though!