USDA Farmers Market Newsletter

The USDA Farmers Market is a "living laboratory," dedicated to providing opportunities for farmers, ranchers, and small businesses to sell their products to those living in and visiting our Nation's capital.

Farmers Market vendors are the heart and soul of the community. We miss ours dearly and know you do too! Check out this week's vendor spotlight!

Lori Henry is the proud co-owner of Henry’s Hot Sauce. Located in Woodstock, Virginia, Henry’s Hot Sauce is a family owned farm that has been operating for nine years. Lori and her husband grow habaneros with 800 habanero plants of 12 different varieties currently in the ground. Henry’s Hot Sauce employs local students to help plant and grow the habaneros. In order to maintain their continued success, they focus on staying true to their product line. Lori has regarded her five years of experience as a vendor at the USDA Farmers Market as nothing but positive. She especially loves meeting the many different people that attend the market and the relationships she’s been able to form with the other vendors. The USDA Farmers Market would like to thank Henry’s Hot Sauce for their continued support and dedication over the years.

Connecting with USDA Farmers Market Vendors

Although the opening of the market is delayed, we would love for you to still have a way to contact your favorite vendors. Here is a link containing that information as well as some markets our vendors are currently servicing: Vendor Information.pdf

Produce of the Week: Squash

Did you know…
There are two different types of squash: summer and winter squash. Summer squash have thin skins that can be eaten whole. Winter squash have firm skins that are not edible, firmer flesh, and require their seeds to be removed before eating. Examples of summer squash include zucchini or pattypan squash. Winter squash examples include pumpkin or butternut squash. 

For more facts and information on Squash, check out this week’s

“How to Grow, Pick, Prepare and Store Series” Video

Click here for the VegU Video

“Butternut Squash Fritters”

(Source: Justataste.com)

Recipe Card

USDA has a diverse community of employees that contribute to a culturally rich environment. “Community Corner” explores the influences of cultural heritage and tradition through the lens of USDA Farmers Market’s stakeholders, customers, and neighbors.

Happy National Hispanic Heritage Month!

National Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) commemorates Americans with ancestry from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America, with eight Latin American countries celebrating their independence in the month of September. HHM began its observance in 1968 and runs from September 15th – October 15th. At the USDA Farmers Market, we like to celebrate all groups, special holidays, and observances. Last year, we hosted USDA’s very own Hispanic Employee Program for fellowship and lunch outside in the picnic area. This program promotes equal treatment in all aspects of employment, provides training programs and supplies a professional network of support for the members. For more information, please check out USDA’s Diversity and Inclusion Programs contact section. https://www.dm.usda.gov/employ/diversity/hep.htm

Each issue The USDA Farmers Market will share stories of how individuals have been impacted by the market. Stories can be submitted to: Toiayna.Thompson@usda.gov

An Update from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated the guidelines for outdoor farmers markets on September 17th, 2020. Since the start of the pandemic, the CDC has ranked farmers markets essential because they support local farms and provide communities access to fresh, healthy food during the pandemic. Access to healthy food options and nutrition play an important role in overall physical and mental health. Outdoor farmers markets provide a lower risk shopping option with immediate and lasting benefits for shoppers and the community at-large.

CDC considerations are meant to supplement state, local, territorial, or tribal health and safety laws, rules, and regulations that organizations must follow. Market managers should monitor the spread of COVID-19 in the community and plan to adjust their operations as necessary. Outdoor activities generally are lower risk than indoor activities but there are still important ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19. CDC recommends the following to market managers to promote healthy behaviors:

• Encourage people to stay home when sick.
• Encourage people to socially distance. Where possible, redesigning market layouts to increase the distance between customers in line and walking throughout the market (e.g., increase space between vendor booths; create one-way traffic flow). Ensure that market layout modifications are accessible for all persons (e.g., ADA-compliant paths).
• Require masks for staff, volunteers and vendors. Encourage customers to bring and use masks.
• Provide handwashing stations or hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol for all, including customers, market staff, volunteers, and vendors, and encourage vendors to offer the same at their booth.
• Post signs in highly visible locations (e.g., at building entrances, in restrooms) that promote everyday protective measures and describe how to stop the spread of germs by properly washing hands and properly wearing a mask.
• Routinely clean, sanitize, and disinfect payment devices, tables, and other high touch surfaces and objects. Require participating market vendors to do the same.

We have provided an abbreviated list of CDC recommendations. To find out more information visit the following link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/outdoor-farmers-markets.html

Hispanic Heritage month is here! Celebrate Hispanic Heritage month by learning about the history, playing some games, and more.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/hispanic/index.htm

Due to the COVID-19 National Emergency, the opening of the USDA Farmers Market is pending. We will provide updates as we receive guidance.