Farmer’s market aims to expand options for Anacostia residents

The FRESHFARM ACM farmer’s market season concludes in late November, but the organization already plans to expand its services to Anacostia residents next year by collaborating with more vendors, attracting new customers, and becoming a regular fixture in the neighborhood.

FRESHFARM, in partnership with the Anacostia Community Museum, hosts a weekly farmer’s market each Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of the museum’s entrance. From April 18 to Nov. 21, visitors can purchase a selection of in-season produce grown by local farmers.

As its fourth market season concludes next month, FRESHFARM hopes to continue expanding its reach and impact in Anacostia.

FRESHFARM, a D.C.-based nonprofit committed to “creating food access, economic development, and thriving communities through education,” offers FreshMatch, an incentive program that offers a dollar-for-dollar match for all federal benefit programs, including WIC, WIC FMNP, SNAP, and Senior FMNP.

In addition, participants can sign up for ProducePlus, a DC Health initiative that provides locally grown, fresh produce to D.C. residents who lack access to healthy fruits and vegetables.

Rebecca Chávez, FRESHFARM’s director of agricultural programs, said that partnering with ACM felt like a natural alignment of the two organization’s programming goals.

Chávez said that the ACM reached out to FRESHFARM several years ago after presenting an exhibit about food justice. Working with the ACM was FRESHFARM’s first sustained opportunity to have a presence in Ward 8.

“Food insecurity is on the rise, especially now,” said Chávez. She said that D.C. is a historically segregated city, and neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River are most impacted due to the lack of full-service grocery stores in the area.

Chávez said she wants to further integrate FRESHFARM into ACM’s programming and bring expanded vendor offerings to the community for next year’s season.

“I think we’re going to be able to have musicians every week,” Chávez said, in addition to hosting pop-up shops and inviting farmers to share their produce at their own stands.

The challenge, though, has been increasing attendance at the existing farmstand.

“The space that we’re in is a bit small, and we don’t get a lot of foot traffic,” said Dayna de Montagnac, a public health professional and FRESHFARM farm stand operator. Because the museum is in an isolated area in historic Anacostia, it’s difficult to draw in participants from the surrounding area.

The museum is a bit over a mile from the Anacostia Metro station.

“It would be really nice if there was more attention drawn to this place, and that way, more vendors are comfortable coming in and selling their products,” said de Montagnac.

She said this is her first season with FRESHFARM, and she appreciates the opportunity to create meaningful connections with the community while working the farm stand.

“A lot of the community members do comment on how they feel the market has improved since they’ve been attending,” said Rykia Amos, a local farmer and FRESHFARM farm stand operator. Most farm stand visitors have told her that they are happy with the variety of produce selections. Amos said that she enjoys seeing new faces become regulars.

“I’ve been able to talk and connect with people that come to the stand and get a better idea of what’s going on in the community,” Amos said. This was her main goal for applying for the farm stand operator position.

Barbara Young is a lifelong D.C. resident as well as a ProducePlus user and farm stand visitor of two years. She said that ProducePlus is convenient, helps her out financially, provides her with fresh produce when she needs it.

“It’s been pretty good, and in this economy, every dollar helps,” Young said.

Yvette Mitchell, an Anacostia resident, was a ProducePlus recipient in 2023, 2024, and 2025, but was not approved for 2026. She said a FRESHFARM staff member told her that the program was “overwhelmed with people.”

Still, she has visited the market regularly since it opened four years ago.

Aminat Adebule, FRESHFARM’s food services navigator, encourages all seniors to apply for Grocery Plus through the Capital Area Food Bank, especially after the FRESHFARM market closes for the year in late November and returns next June. Adebule said that the Capital Area Food Bank’s Grocery Plus program provides seniors over 60 with 25 to 30 pounds of healthy food from each month.

Adebule also said that, as food services navigator, she manages FRESHFARM’s collaborations with external partners while also sharing resources and training materials with community members. She troubleshoots any issues market visitors might have with the ProducePlus program.

Adebule said she also encourages mothers to connect with FRESHFARM, Capital Area Food Bank, and Martha’s Table to access healthy food year-round, as each program accepts WIC.

“I started this work as a customer, so I’ve been to the market and seen what they do. I want to serve my community, so that’s one of the main reasons I joined them,” said Adebule.