Attractions > Farmers Market

Downtown College Park Farmers Market

4500 Knox Rd
College Park, MD 20740
downtowncollegeparkmarket.org
(240) 487-3543
Sun: 10:00am - 2:00pm
Mon:
Tue:
Wed:
Thu:
Fri:
Sat:
Details: Credit Cards, Free Parking
The Downtown College Park Farmers Market is open for the 2017 season.

The market started in 2011 as an effort to increase access to fresh produce in the heart of the City for both residents and students at the University of Maryland. The market continues to grow as each season has seen an increase in both customers and vendors. The market emphasizes locally-grown fruit and vegetables as all produce must be from within a 150-mile radius of the market.

The market is open on Sundays from 10:00am to 2:00pm during the season, which runs from April to November each year.

In addition to a diverse set of vendors, the market features weekly events such as chef demos, children's events, and educational booths.

The market takes place in the City Hall Parking Lot at 4500 Knox Road. Free parking is available on Sundays, including the downtown parking garage on the corner of Knox Road and Yale Avenue.

The market is sponsored in a combined effort by the City of College Park and the Downtown College Park Management Authority. In order to support the Downtown merchants and the keep the neighborhood thriving please stop by their shops before and after the market.

Some vendors accept Farmers Market Nutrition Program Checks and WIC Fruit & Vegetable Checks. Participating vendors will have official signage at their tent.

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Market Newsletter

During the season a weekly newsletter is distributed to highlight events taking place at the market and which vendors will be in attendance.

Market Recipes

From spicy salsa with watermelon to strawberry mocktails — enjoy these farmer-tested market recipes!

Farmers Market Recipes:
Steak Butter

April 30, 2014

Credit: The Common Credit: City of College Park Credit: City of College Park Credit: The Common
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At the first market of the 2014 season, Executive Chef Diego Fernandez and Executive Sous Chef Dupree Braswell of The Common entertained market guests with a cooking demo. With New York Strip steaks from their restaurant, the chefs prepared steak butter at the market along with a side of roasted beets. Here’s the recipe for the steak butter, which pairs perfectly with a steak grilled to your liking:

Ingredients

  • 1 lb unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp. beef base
  • 1 tbsp. minced garlic
  • 1 tbsp. minced shallots
  • 2 tbsp. chopped rosemary
  • 1 tbsp. chopped parsley
  • 3 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

 Directions

  • Cut the butter in cubes and leave at room temperature until is soft.
  • In a sauce pan, melt 1 tbsp of the total amount of butter and cook the garlic and shallots.
  • Add the beef base and Worcestershire sauce and cook for 1 minute.
  • Add the herbs and cook another minute.
  • Let the mixture cool down.
  • Whip the butter with a mixer or by hand. Add the beef base mixture and fold everything with a spatula.
  • If you are going to use right away, you can place a tbsp on top of your prefer cut of grilled meat.
  • You can also make the butter ahead and keep in the freezer for later use. If you are doing this, once you mix the butter with the beef base ( after step 5) place the mixture in the cooler for 15 minutes so the butter hardens a little bit but is still manageable.
  • On a piece of parchment or wax paper, place the butter in the middle and with the help of the paper make a roll and twist the ends, like a candy.
  • You can keep the butter in the freezer up to 3 months. When you are ready to use it, just slice whatever you need and keep the rest in the freezer.

Farmers Market Recipes:
Spicy Salsa with Watermelon

September 12, 2013

Credit: City of College Park
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At the Downtown College Park Farmers Market this past weekend, nutritionist Katherine Tallmadge stopped by to make a delicious and refreshing variation of traditional salsa. Katherine used primarily fresh ingredients from the market’s two produce vendors, Larry’s Produce and Miller Farms, so stop by the market this weekend and give the recipe a try yourself.

Read More…

Farmers Market Recipes:
Asparagus Soup

May 9, 2013

Credit: City of College Park Credit: City of College Park
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At Sunday’s Grand Opening of the Downtown College Park Farmers Market Ferhat Yalcin, owner of College Park’s own Fishnet, stopped by for a cooking demo. Ferhat used fresh ingredients from the market to make a delicious asparagus soup that patrons were able to sample.

Read More…

Farmers Market Recipes: Strawberry Mocktail

May 6, 2013

Credit: City of College Park Credit: City of College Park
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Yesterday at the Downtown College Park Farmers Market Gina Chersevani, owner of Buffalo & Bergen in DC, stopped by to serve refreshing, non-alcoholic mocktails. Gina used strawberries and sage sold at the market to make the drinks, which were available for sampling by patrons.

Read More…

Farmers Market Recipes:
Baby Bok Choy Soup

April 15, 2013

The Downtown College Park Farmers Market opened yesterday for the 2013 season and featured a cooking demo from the owner of local restaurant Fishnet. Ferhat Yalcin used baby bok choy and spring onions sold at the market for the base of his soup and cooked on site for market patrons to watch. Upon finishing the dish, patrons were able to sample the soup.

Read More…

Prospective Vendors

The Downtown College Park Farmers Market is seeking vendors for the 2015 season, which will begin on April 12th. Interested vendors are required to submit the following items to be considered:

  • Completed vendor application including a list of all products to be sold at the market in 2015.
  • Signed vendor handbook certifying the vendor has read, understands, and will abide by the market guidelines.
  • Proof of insurance that meets the requirements established on page 5 of the vendor handbook.
  • All applicable permits and licenses required by the State of Maryland, Prince George's County, and/or the state from where the product comes.

If you have any questions please contact Ryan Chelton, Economic Development Coordinator, at 240-487-3543 or rchelton@collegeparkmd.gov.

This Week at the Market

The market is open for the season!

Live Music with Birds on a wire from 11:00-1:00

Live Music with Birds on a wire from 11:00-1:00

Weekly Trivia Answers

NOVEMBER 16th

Question 1: About how old are maple trees before they are ready to be tapped?

A) 20 years

B) 30 years

C) 40 years

 

Question 2: Choose the two ways that maple sap is collected to make syrup.

A) In buckets hanging from spouts.

B) With a knife and maple press.

C) Plastic tubing and vacuum pumps.

 

 

NOVEMBER 9th

Question 1: More foods are made with this grain than any other cereal grain.

A) Corn

B) Rice

C) Wheat

 

Question 2: Which state produces the most wheat?

A) Kansas

B) Ohio

C) Illinois

 

 

NOVEMBER 2nd

Question 1: How many varieties of potatoes are grown in the United States?

A) 3

B) 5

C) 7

 

Question 2: What percentage of the potato crop is turned into frozen fries?

A) 20%

B) 32%

C) 40%

 

 

OCTOBER 26th

Question 1: True or False - Pumpkin flowers are edible.

 

Question 2: True or False - Pumpkins are fruits.

 

 

OCTOBER 19th

Question 1: After dairy products, what is the most consumed food in the U.S.?

A) Tomatoes

B) Potatoes

C) Corn

 

Question 2: Roughly how many new dairy products are introduced each year?

A) 200

B) 600

C) 1,000

 

 

OCTOBER 12th

Question 1: Which animals are sometimes used to guard large herds from predators?

A) Llamas

B) Donkeys

C) Dogs

D) All of the above

 

Question 2: True or False - a cow is more valuable for its milk, cheese, butter, and yogurt than for its beef.

 

 

OCTOBER 5th

Question 1: True or False - produce from a farmers market is often more expensive than produce at a grocery store.

 

Question 2: For a produce to be labeled "organic," what is the minimum percentage of organic content it must include?

A) 50%

B) 75%

C) 95%

 

 

SEPTEMBER 28th

Question 1: Which of these countries are top apple producers around the world?

A) United States

B) China

C) Poland

D) All of the above

 

Question 2: Which of these is the largest yearly producer of eggs?

A) United States

B) China

C) Canada

 

 

SEPTEMBER 21st

Question 1: How many apples does it take to create one gallon of apple cider?

A) 12

B) 24

C) 36

 

Question 2: True or False - Apples account for 30% of the international deciduous fruit tree produce.

 

 

SEPTEMBER 14th

Question 1: What was the weight of the largest apple ever picked?

A) 2.75 lbs

B) 3 lbs

C) 5.25 lbs

 

Question 2: Which of these apple varieties is native to North America?

A) McIntosh apple

B) Crab apple

C) Victory apple

 

 

SEPTEMBER 7th

Question 1: True or False - apples are a member of the rose family.

 

Question 2: Apple trees grow for how many years before producing their first fruit?

A) 2-3 years

B) 4-5 years

C) 8-10 years

 

 

AUGUST 31st

Question 1: What was the highest price ever paid for a single truffle?

A) $24,000

B) $265,000

C) $330,000

 

Question 2: True or False - there are more species of fungi on the planet than green plants?

 

 

AUGUST 24th

Question 1: True or False - In 1995, potato plants were taken into space aboard the space shuttle Columbia. This marked the first time any food was grown in space.

 

Question 2: One medium potato contains what percent of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C?

A) 15%

B) 30%

C) 45%

 

 

AUGUST 17th

Question 1: True or False - pears, like many fruits, ripen halfway on the tree and then are picked and sold.

Correct answer: pears are one of the few fruits that don't ripen on the tree. They are picked when they are mature, but not yet ripe.

 

Question 2: Which of these states is a top producer of pears in America?

A) Oregon

B) Virginia

C) Florida

 

 

AUGUST 10th

Question 1: When does the U.S. typically harvest pears?

A) July - August

B) August - October

C) September - November

 

Question 2: How many varieties of pears are there?

A) 500

B) 2,500

C) 5,000

 

 

AUGUST 3rd

Question 1:  Which of these has the highest natural source of dietary fiber?

A) Lettuce

B) Soybean

C) Broccoli

 

Question 2: Which two of these contain 90% or more water?

A) Pumpkin

B) Watermelon

C) Peach

 

 

 

JULY 27th

Question 1:  In the 17th century, farmers in New York City built a wall to keep pigs from roaming. The street running along this wall was called:

A) 6th Avenue

B) Bowery

C) Wall Street

 

Question 2: Which two peanut farmers have been elected President of the United States?

A) Thomas Jefferson

B) John Adams

C) Jimmy Carter

D) Bill Clinton

 

 

JULY 20th

Question 1:  A cow produces an average of _____ gallons of milk daily.

A) 2.4

B) 3.7

C) 5.3

D) 6.3

 

Question 2: True or False, the average American consumes 35 gallons of milk per year.

Correct answer: 25 gallons per year.

 

 

JULY 13th

Question 1: True or False, eggs contain all the essential protein, minerals, and vitamins the human body needs.

 

Question 2: Eggs are porous, so up to how many pores can they have over their surface.

A) 10,000

B) 17,000

C) 43,000

 

 

JULY 6th

Question 1: Scientists believe the watermelon originated on which continent?

A) Africa

B) Asia

C) South America

 

Question 2: True or False: thumping the side of the fruit and listening to the sound it makes is the best way to tell if a fruit is ripe.

Correct way - sniff the produce as fruits tend to be the most fragrant when they are at their peak flavor.

 

 

JUNE 29th

Question 1: When is the best time to buy produce from a farmers market?

A) Early morning

B) Noon

C) Late in the day

 

Question 2: How should you clean fruits before eating them?

A) Spritz in a peroxide-water spray

B) Soak in soapy water

C) Wash under cool water

D) There is rarely a need to wash fruit

 

 

JUNE 22nd

Question 1: Which of these provides the most concentrated source of potassium?

A) Potato

B) Broccoli

C) Banana

D) Orange

 

Question 2: What percentage of potato nutrition is found in the skin?

A) 10%

B) 20%

C) 40%

D) 60%

 

 

JUNE 15th

Question 1: How long has the oldest farmers market in the U.S., the Lancaster Central Market in Pennsylvania, been in operation?

A) 78 years

B) 172 years

C) 201 years

D) 255 years

 

Question 2: Which of these is a good reason to buy produce from a farmers market?

A) You are supporting a small business.

B) You know where your food is coming from.

C) Local produce is typically the freshest and tastiest available.

D) All of the above.

 

 

JUNE 8th

Question 1: What is the most consumed melon in the U.S.?

A) Cantaloupe

B) Watermelon

C) Honeydew

 

Question 2: What percent of watermelon is water?

A) 50%

B) 70%

C) 90%

 

 

JUNE 1st

Question 1: Of the produce in season at the market in June, which has the highest amount of calcium?

A) Rhubarb

B) Green beans

C) Blackberries

D) Summer squash

 

Question 2: True or False - One cup of strawberries offers more vitamin C than an orange.

 

 

MAY 25th

Question 1: True or False - Due to the scarcity of coffee beans during the Civil War, soybeans were used in their place to make coffee.

 

Question 2: Soybeans are used to produce which of the following:

A) Ink to print newspapers

B) Plastics

C) Textiles

D) All of the above

 

 

MAY 18th

Question 1: What percentage of the world's food supply is affected by honey bee pollination?

A) 20-40%

B) 50-80%

C) 90-100%

 

Question 2: True or False - Without honey bees it would be easy to pollinate fruits and vegetables?

 

 

MAY 11th

Question 1: Is a tomato a vegetable or a fruit?

A) Vegetable

B) Fruit

 

Question 2: True or false - Lettuce is a member of the sunflower family.

 

 

MAY 4th

Question 1: Today, the average U.S. farmer feeds _____ people, while in 1960 a farmer fed just 26 people.

A) 79

B) 134

C) 155

 

Question 2: To keep up with projected worldwide population growth, more food will have to be produced in the next 50 years as the past ____ years combined.

A) 1,000

B) 5,000

C) 10,000

 

 

APRIL 27th

Question 1: What percentage of total land area in the U.S. is farmland?

A) 32%

B) 41%

C) 67%

 

Question 2: Which of these is the largest farmers market in the U.S.?

A) Dane County Farmers' Market in Wisconsin

B) Santa Fe Farmers Market in New Mexico

C) Union Square Greenmarket in NYC

What's In Season Guide

Wondering which fruits and vegetables are available during the market season?

Download the Guide

Download the Guide See the typical harvest dates of popular produce. http://shopcollegepark.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Whats-In-Season-Guide2.jpg
See the typical harvest dates of popular produce.
Pulled Pork Sandwich from Bill\'s Backyard BBQ; Credit: Ryan Wolniak Donuts from Miller Farms; Credit: Ryan Wolniak Larry\'s Produce; Credit: Ryan Wolniak Egg rolls from Roy and RT\'s Kitchen; Credit: Ryan Wolniak Phil\'s Dills Gourmet Pickles; Credit: Ryan Wolniak Gluten-free cookies from Gentle Flours; Credit: Ryan Wolniak Birds on a Wire; Credit: Ryan Wolniak
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