to fight hunger and food scarcity , especially during the pandemic .
The Bethesda location has a special vibe . Friendly , high energy , lots of families , a multicultural mix of people seeking not only the intimacy of meeting your farmer , artisans and chefs , but gathering to catch up and hang out . For some it ’ s a two-hour ritual with frequent stops to swap stories .
Then COVID hit . “ It was almost prophetic when Governor Hogan back in March 2020 asked us and some of the few year-round farm markets to ‘ Please keep your farm markets open . We need to keep the local food chain going .’ And the governor and others didn ’ t really know how important that would be down the line a few months later when the industrial meat processing plants started closing due to work force reductions . Ironic that it was the people that got sick not the animals ,” recounts Mitch . By April COVID was racing through the northeast . Things were dire . Mitch and Deb calculated the risks , both personally and for his people … being as careful as he possibly could , and decided to stay open . “ We never missed a day while others chose to close or open later .”
Food sources and social fabric intact , life went on at Bethesda Central Farm Market . “ It ’ s called the Village Green by some ,” says Mitch . “ That wasn ’ t the plan originally . We just wanted to create a farmers market where people could come to get good food . Then it kind of evolved into : hey , we should have music ; hey , we should have chef demos ; hey , we should have kids activities ; hey , let ’ s put down tables over here , let ’ s invite dogs in !”
The evolution of the Bethesda
Top : Rob Young owner of Young Harvests Farm grows the tastiest organic greens you will every munch in to ( available at all the Central Farm Markets ); above : serving up healthy veggie and meat-based crepes with a gluten-free option at Rita ’ s Crepes .
site has fostered deep connections market early before he sells out . between vendors and their loyal Mitch has knighted him the Lettuce customers . As a social experiment about creating community , it grows is so full of flavor . He is an
Whisperer . “ Everything this guy
works . “ I ’ ve had people tell me that expert on the soil and that makes they specifically came home from all the difference ,” assures Mitch . their vacation on Saturday because The respect is mutual . “ He gets if they returned on Sunday they ’ d it , that ’ s for sure ,” says Rob , referring to Mitch and his prior success miss the market and wouldn ’ t have food for the week .” years ago as a farm market stand
From the vendor side the gratitude and appreciation for the farm 3 am going to bed at 11 pm criss-
owner for eight years ( getting up at
market is easily apparent . Take crossing Maryland to supply his Young Harvests Farm , for example , farm stands ) followed by a wholesale organic food and specialty ice from Charles Town West Virginia . Owner Rob Young is kind of a rock cream wholesaler with 20 trucks star in the leafy green space and covering six states and introducing to the to mid-Atlantic you ’ d better get to the Bethesda region
40 plenty I Summer growing 2021