BETHESDA CENTRAL

FARM MARKET

2012 SEASON

BEGINS TODAY

Farmers Market Moves from

Bethesda Row to new spot at

Bethesda ES

Today is moving day for the Bethesda Central Farm Market. The popular market officially opens the 2012 season at its new location, Bethesda Elementary School at Arlington Road and Wilson Lane, with summer hours of 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM.

There has been some grumbling about the change. Like I said before, if you live in Upstairs at Bethesda Row or The Seasons, it's going to be a longer walk or short drive. But I don't agree with the argument that this is spurring people to drive, or shortchanging our "walkable community." Why? Because the majority of downtown Bethesda apartments are in "Old Town" Bethesda, and this new location is an easier walk for almost all residents than the old spot.

And if someone wants to bring their car so they can load up on healthy, local and sustainable foods for the week, that's their right, and a net gain for the environment in my opinion. If easy parking gets more people to come out, that means more farms stay in business. And those farms don't get sold to developers to cause construction runoff into streams. So, everybody relax and enjoy the market!

Today's cooking demonstration is by Bethesda's own Francesco Ricchi of Cesco Osteria on Woodmont Avenue. Get ready to expand your knowledge of Italian cooking for your own kitchen experiments at home. The chef demos will be at 9:30 and 10:30.

Remember I told you that a benefit of the new location is more room for more vendors?

It came true! Welcome these new folks to the Market today:

Teazan Tea

Love and Kindness - natural soap and lotions

Karen Kay's Cakes - layer cakes

Zeke's Coffee - freshly roasted by the cup or the pound

But all of your old favorites are back, too, including Westmoreland Farm, Two Acre Farm, Mock's, Toigo Orchards, Bending Bridge Farm, Walnut Hill, Meatcrafters, Stonyman Gourmet, Vernon's Seafood, and many more!

Returning vendors of prepared food include Betty's Chips and Salsa, Caprice de Joelle, and Old Smoky Barbecue.

SPAGnVOLA isn't just bringing chocolate; today they are introducing their homeade gelato!

Uppercrust Breads will have scones, pastries, granola and locally-milled flour (you can't get any greener than that, unless you're Kermit the Frog!).

If that's not all, Sharpen This stands ready to sharpen your kitchen knives and small garden tools just in time for Spring.

So head over this morning, and soon the Bethesda ES location will be old hat.