The District is home to a vibrant array of over 50 farmers markets located in all eight Wards. Farmers markets are important food access points, spaces for community building, and ways to activate public space.
The Sustainable Supply Chain Working Group presented on the August 7, 2024 Food Policy Council meeting regarding recommendations to support the maintenance, success, and expansion of farmers markets into food apartheid areas. You can review their presentation here or watch the recording here.
The Farmers Market Support Amendment Act of 2025 was introduced on January 31, 2025 to create a Farmers Market Support Program to support farmers markets, farm stands, and mobile markets. The Committee on Health held a public hearing on March 17, 2025 and updated the bill text based on the public input. Click here to learn more.
See below for resources for visiting, starting, or operating a local farmers market.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Where Can I Find a Farmers Market Near Me?
On this interactive map, you can find your closest farmers markets. If you are having issues viewing the map above, please try visiting this link here.
Here are few tips on how to use the farmers market map:
- Use the search bar in the upper right corner by typing your address or name of location you want to zoom into. Use the + and – buttons to zoom in and out.
- Click on green dots to see the market location, open days, hours, and months, bus and metro stops nearby, and types of food benefits accepted.
- Click on orange icons to find the food waste smart bins available 24/7 to drop off food waste. To unlock the bin, use the keypad access code 2-0-2-5-# or download the metroKEY app.
- Click on red icons to find the staffed weekend food waste drop-off events on Saturdays and Sundays.
Food benefits accepted at farmers markets include SNAP, WIC, Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program, and Produce Plus. Some markets offer dollar-to-dollar match such as FreshMatch.
Additional Farmers’ Market Resources
DC Health has several resources available for community members, farmers’ market managers, farmers, and program participants. The DC Produce Incentive Programs: Partner Outreach Materials folder includes the Market Guide, Food Navigator training, participant handouts, and farmers’ market flyers. The resources are updated regularly throughout the DC Produce Incentive Programs farmers’ market season (June – November).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
How Can I Start a Farmers Market in DC?
Last updated May 2023
Class C Vending Business License for Public Market Manager: Authorizes a person to manage public markets on public or private space for the sale of agricultural goods and other farm products, or other food as designated by DC Department of Health (DC Health) Director, and other non-food merchandise or services as designated by the DCRA Director.
1) Corporate Registration
- Register Your Business and Trade Name with the Corporations Division (If you are applying as a sole proprietor with no trade name, a corporate registration is not required)
2) Tax Registration & Clean Hands
- Register your business with the Office of Tax & Revenue by completing form FR-500. (If operating as a sole proprietor with no trade name, make sure you are up to date with OTR.)
- Request a Certificate of Clean Hands: this certifies that you or your business doesn’t have any fees or fines owed to the District and that you are up to date with filing business taxes. The certificate must be dated within 30 days of submission of your license application.
3) Location Authorization
- Apply for a Public Space Permit from the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) if your market will be located on public space.
- Note: If your market will be located at a Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) or DC Public School District (DCPS) location, you will be required to submit a space permit from the respective agency.
- Apply for a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy from the DOB Permit Center if your market will be located on private property.
- Fee waivers for markets participating in nutrition programs:
- Fees for DPR permits are waived for farmers market operators and vendors if they sell food through SNAP or WIC.
- Meter fees are waived for farmers market operators and vendors if they participate in both the Farmer’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) and SNAP.
4) Submit your Application Materials
- Submit a Vending Business License Applications and attach the following documents:
- Corporate Registration and Trade Name Registration (if applicable)
- Notice of Business Tax Registration & Clean Hands Certificate
- Public Space Permit or Temporary Certificate of Occupancy
- Government-Issued ID for manager and all employees
- Passport-sized photo of manager and all employees for ID badge
- Once your application is received, a licensing specialist will review and follow up with payment instructions.
Questions to consider before starting a market:
- Where do you want your farmers market to be located? Is the location at a public site or a private site? Is the public site DPR land, general public space, or DCPS land?
- What public benefits will you or your vendors accept? SNAP, WIC, WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program, Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
- What insurance do you need and what insurance do you need your vendors to have?
- What type of vendors would you like to accept? Will you be charging them per week, per season, or based on sales? Consider what types of businesses you’ll attract with each model.