Arts & Entertainment

Where's the Farmers Market?

Wheaton has small but fruitful farmers market on Sundays.

There's two weekly flea markets in the Wheaton area with a large number of vendors, but right down the street from the one in the Safeway parking lot, is the Wheaton Farmers Market, across the mid-county services center on Reedie Drive

It's not a bustling affair, but the two vendors open on Sunday brought a surprising array of fruits, vegetables and herbs. Even as late as 11:30am, residents bought up tomatoes, okra and apples.

Margie Satterlee from Pheasant Hill Farm in Mount Airy said the rush comes at 8am, right when they open.  This past Sunday morning, they brought peaches, nectarines, plums, and pears, as well as four types of apples.

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"The honey crisps go the fastest," she said.

"I had figs I've been selling for two weeks, but those are all gone," said Ursula Elgert, who was helping out at the Pheasant Hill Farm table.

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Satterlee and Pheasant Hill have been bringing their fruits and vegetables since the market was originally located on Blueridge Avenue. The location was moved, she said, for "better exposure", but according to Satterlee, it's not made a significant difference.

Right next to her table, Anna Linderholm was selling her own fruits, herbs, and specialty spinach. It was Linderholm's first time selling at the Wheaton market, although she's been growing food in her backyard - an acre of land - for 30 years.

"This is the time of the year when you've got more than you can eat, more than you can give to your neighbors," she said, adding that she got the idea of selling the leftover harvest at a farmers market when she learned her veterinarian was doing the same in Clarksburg.

She offered tastes from the bags of Malabar spinach she was selling. Linderholm said it was one of the most popular seeds in the world, although not a common spinach variety in the states. The leaf itself was heavier than store-bought spinach, and was slightly crispy when eaten.

While Linderholm had almost sold out of tomatoes and hot peppers, she was also selling lavender, chives and catnip. She said she was hoping to return to the farmer's market in upcoming weeks.

"I love it," she said, "I like to talk to the people here."

The Wheaton Farmers Market is open through October on Sundays from 8am to 1:30pm.


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