WASHINGTON, June 4, 2010 -- Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today kicked off the 15th season of the USDA Summer Farmers Market. With the opening day theme "In Our Neighborhood" as part of the opening ceremony, Merrigan welcomed special guest Chef Eric Ziebold, executive chef of CityZen and Sou'wester at The Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
"The USDA Farmers Market is an integral part of the Department's commitment to developing wider markets for direct-to-consumer opportunities and expanding access to fresh, healthy food for USDA and other employees on the National Mall," said Merrigan, who rang the opening bell. "The market also benefits tourists and other visitors to Washington, D.C."
Chef Ziebold held two cooking demonstrations using locally grown strawberries in a strawberry shortcake recipe and in a non-alcoholic fruit-infused cocktail. Other federal agencies hosted information booths, along with representatives of attractions around the National Mall.
The USDA Farmers Market, held every Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot at 12th Street and Independence Ave., S.W. (across the street from the Smithsonian Metro stop), boasts fruits, vegetables, herbs, and bakery products from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The first Friday of each month, the market, which attracts up to 2,000 shoppers each market day, will host a cooking demonstration led by a chef from one of D.C.'s most exciting restaurants. The market will also have live music and other special guests throughout the season, which will end on October 29.
Later in the season, market visitors will enjoy a variety of other special events. July will celebrate "All Things Red, White and Blue" while August's theme will be "Farmers Markets for All Ages" and include special activities for National Farmers Market Week, August 1-7, 2010. The farmers market is also next to the USDA's People's Garden, which will hold educational events on Fridays.
Vendors at the USDA Farmers Market include: Grace's Pastries (Va.), C&T Produce (Va.), Swover Creek Farms (Va.), Penn Farm (Va.), Calvert Kettle Corn (Md.), Wild Mountain Honey (Va.), Terrapin Station Herb Farm (Pa.), So Very Special Soaps (Md.), Hondo Coffee Company (Va.), Harris Orchard (Md.), Union Street Soapworks (Md.), Uptown Bakers (Md.), AJ's Hawaiian Iceez (Md.), and Old Pioneer's Kitchen (Va.).
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) hosts the USDA Summer Farmers Market and an indoor winter market. Information about the USDA Farmers Market, including an updated calendar of special events, is available at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/farmersmarkets.
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