If you love buying natural products from a farmer’s market, then one place you’ve got to visit is the Olney Farmers and Artists Market. The farmer’s market consists of a couple of food trucks as well as a stand of brewers and wineries. They also have drink stands, homemade pastries, as well as artists and jewelers. They are located by the Medstar Hospital which makes them really easy to see. The nice thing about this market is that it is open every Sunday all year round from 9 am to 1 pm. This farmers and artist’s market offers great options, live music, and a welcoming environment that will make you want to come back.
This market was first established in 2007 when Janet Terry and her husband, Doug Terry, got inspiration from a farmers market in Charleston, South Carolina. That market consisted of food vendors, artists, and jewelers, plus hundreds of customers. To get the market approved, the couple testified before the Olney Civic Association, and ten people in the association, who were in charge of approving the farmers market, raised their hands in support of the farmers market. At first, it was hard for them to find a spot to have the market since they had very few vendors. They started off at the Harris Teeter parking lot, but because of renovations in the parking lot and Harris Teeter needed the space, they have a new location at Medstar Hospital.
The Onley Farmer and Artist’s market has a diverse food selection that includes the Dalat Deli food stand, a spot that offers Vietnamese cuisine that is family-owned. Other vendors include
- Churros Inc., a Mexican churro stand that sells churros six different ways, as well as Mexican ice or hot coffee
- DMV Empanadas, a Bolivian stand that always sells a lot because of its various flavors of empanadas, from sweet to savory
- Early Dawn Catering, a Jamaican food truck that welcomes everyone to try their food
- Italian Pasta Shop, which offers Italian cuisine that makes pasta in front of you
- Sweets by Yia Yia Marika, a Greek pastry stand.
While this may sound like a lot, there are many other cuisine options that will have you coming back week after week. One of the vendors was Maritza Dotti, who runs “ The Crepe Shoppe, Maritza sells crepes at this shop and says that she started selling here because “I always try to find new places to sell my crepes. My food truck can be found in many farmers’ markets throughout the DC area. I do it for more people to try my crepes because it’s something I enjoy doing, because of the various flavors I have on the menu, so I want more people to try it and give their opinion.” Maritza finds motivation in her mistakes and unbusy days. “I think what motivates me the most is the enjoyment on people’s faces when they try the crepes,” she says. “The days that I don’t sell much don’t unmotivate me, I just know that the next day will be a better day, if the day after that is not better, then it doesn’t matter. We have more good days than bad. I am grateful for where I am today.” Maritza finds a lot of passion for the work that she does and is happy to do a job that allows her to be creative.
The Olney Farmers Market and Artists Market is a great place to visit overall, no matter the season. The same vendors or new ones will be there. Looking at the art that people take their time to make is admirable and the food will always be fresh, making the time spent there worth it. No matter where you are from, the community will be just as welcoming as if you were one of theirs.
