At Clean Fairfax, we are big supporters of local and sustainable food production. In years past, we have maintained a strong presence at the Farmers Markets in Fairfax County, giving away reusable knowledge and bags for many seasons. Now, we are shifting more towards advocacy and continue to work to make the markets plastic-free from behind the scenes.
Plastic at the Markets
As any local farmer will tell you, plastic on the farm is problematic—it can be damaging to produce, animals, and equipment! As consumers, farms and their fresh products are the last places we want to see plastic, so why does plastic still pervade our markets? The short answer is: it shouldn’t; the longer answer: it’s complicated. But we have hope that plastic-free markets can become reality in Fairfax County (and all of Northern VA)! And we even have numerous success stories to turn to for guidance on how to achieve this reality.
Some easy steps to take in phasing out plastic bags at the market (some of which have already begun in our region) include:
- Instituting signage that promotes reusable bag usage.
- Single-use bags upon request only (bags will be behind the vendor counters); and bags may be paper instead of plastic!
- Reusable bags for free and readily available through a Share-A-Bag program, which is similar to DC’s program.
- Allowing vendors to charge a $0.05-$0.10 fee per plastic bag needed (SNAP customers will be exempt).
If you’d like to learn more about plastic-free Farmers Markets, including plastic bag usage data in Fairfax as well as case studies from across the country, check out our 2019 presentation to the Virginia Farmers Market Association (VAFMA).
The Ultimate Northern VA Farmers Market List
City of Alexandria
Del Ray Farmers Market
203 East Oxford Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301
Saturdays 8am-12pm
https://delrayfarmersmarket.com/
Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisan Market
4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22305
Sundays 9am-1pm
https://www.4mrmarket.org/
Old Town Alexandria Market
301 King Street, Alexandria, VA
Saturdays 7am-12pm
https://www.alexandriava.gov/OldTownFarmersMarket
Old Town North Farmers Market
901 North Royal Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
Thursdays 3pm-7pm, Sundays 10am-2pm
https://oldtownnorth.org/farmers-market/
West End Farmers Market
4800 Brenman Park Dr, Alexandria, VA 22304
Sundays 8:30-1 May-Nov
https://www.westendfarmersmarket.org/index.html
Arlington County
Arlington Farmers Market/FreshFarm
1400 North Courthouse Road, Arlington, VA 22201
Saturdays 8am-12pm
https://www.freshfarm.org/markets/arlington
Ballston Farmers Market/FreshFarm
901 N Taylor Street, Arlington, VA 22203
Thursdays 3pm-7pm (April-November)
https://www.freshfarm.org/markets/ballston
Columbia Pike Farmers Market
Columbia Pike & S. Walter Reed Dr, Arlington, VA 22204
Fridays 9am-1pm
https://www.columbiapikefarmersmarket.org/
Fairlington Farmers Market
3308 S. Stafford Street, Arlington, VA 22206
Sundays 9am-1pm (May-November)
https://www.fairlingtonfarmersmarket.org/
Rosslyn Farmers Market/FreshFarm
1800 N Lynn St, Arlington, VA 22209
Wednesdays 3pm-7pm; May-October
https://www.freshfarm.org/markets/rosslyn
Westover Farmers Market
1644 N. McKinley, Arlington, VA 22205
Sundays 8am-12pm (winter hours 9am-1pm)
https://westoverfarmersmarket.org/
Town of Clifton
Clifton Farmers Market
Courtyard of Clifton House
Sundays 8am-12pm (May-November)
https://www.facebook.com/people/cliftonfarmersmarket/100089953699305/
City of Fairfax
Fairfax City Farmers Market
10500 Page Avenue, Fairfax, VA 22030
Saturdays & Sundays 9am-1pm (May-October)
https://www.fairfaxsaturdaymarket.com/
Fairfax County
Annandale Farmers Market
6621 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003
Thursdays 8am-12pm (May-November)
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/farmersmarkets/annandale
Burke Farmers Market
5671 Roberts Parkway, Burke, VA, 22015
Saturdays 8am-12pm (April-December)
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/farmersmarkets/burke
Great Falls Farmers Market
778 Walker Rd, Great Falls, VA 22066
Saturdays 9am-1pm (May-November)
https://www.greatfallsfarmersmarket.org/
Herndon Farmers Market
765 Lynn St., Herndon, VA, 20170
Thursdays 8am-12:30pm (April-November)
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/farmersmarkets/herndon
Kingstowne Farmers Market
5844-5862 Kingstowne Center, Alexandria, VA, 22315
Fridays 3pm-7pm (May-October)
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/farmersmarkets/kingstowne
Lorton Farmers Market
8994 Potomac Bend, Lorton, VA 22079
Sundays 8am-12pm (May-November)
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/farmersmarkets/lorton
McLean Farmers Market
1659 Chain Bridge Rd, McLean, VA, 22101
Fridays 8am-12pm (May-November)
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/farmersmarkets/mclean
Mosaic/FreshFarm
2920 District Ave, Fairfax, VA 22031
Sundays 8am-2pm (winter hours: 10am-2pm)
https://www.freshfarm.org/markets/mosaic
Mount Vernon Farmers Market
2501 Sherwood Hall Lane
Wednesdays 8am-12pm (April-December)
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/farmersmarkets/mccutcheon-mount-vernon
Oakmont Farmers Market
3200 Jermantown Rd
Wednesdays 8am-12pm (May-November)
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/farmersmarkets/oak-marr
Oakton/FreshFarm
2951 Chain Bridge Rd, Oakton, VA 22124
Fridays 9am-1pm
https://www.freshfarm.org/markets/oakton
Reston/FreshFarm
11900 Lawyers Rd, Reston, VA 20191
Wednesdays 3pm-7pm (winter hours: 2pm-6pm)
https://www.freshfarm.org/markets/reston
Reston Farmers Market
1609 Washington Plaza N, Reston, VA 20190
Saturdays 8am-12pm (April-December)
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/farmersmarkets/reston
Wakefield Park Farmers Market
8100 Braddock Road, Annandale, VA 22003
Wednesdays 2pm-6pm (April-October)
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/farmersmarkets/wakefield
Vienna Farmers Market
Vienna Community Center, Park Ave & Cherry St, Vienna, VA 22180
Saturdays 8am-12pm (May-October)
https://optimistclubofgreatervienna.org/events/event1.asp
City of Falls Church
Falls Church Farmers Market
300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046
Saturdays, 8am-12pm (Apr-Dec), 9am-12pm (Jan-Mar)
https://www.fallschurchva.gov/FarmersMarket
*This market is mostly plastic bag free!
Fauquier County
Archwood Green Barns Farmers Market
4559 Old Tavern Rd, The Plains, VA 20198
Sundays 10am-2pm, (April 2-December 17)
https://archwoodgreenbarns.com/
Buchanan Hall Farmers Market
8549 John S Mosby Highway, Upperville, Virginia 20184
Wednesdays, 4:30pm-7:30pm (May 24-October 25)
https://www.buchananhall.org/farmersmarket
Marshall Farmers Market
8374 West Main St, Marshall, Virginia (the corner of north Frost St and Main St)
Fridays 4pm-7pm unless otherwise noted (May 12-October 27)
https://marshallvirginia.com/farmers-market/
Warrenton Farmers Market
21 Main Street, Warrenton, VA 20186
Saturdays 8am-12pm, (April 22-November 18, 2023)
Loudoun County
EatLoco Market at Ashbrook
44505 Atwater Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147
Saturdays 9am-1pm (year-round)
https://www.eatloco.org/
EatLoco Market at The Barn at Brambleton
24439 Evergreen Mills Road, Brambleton, VA 20148
Sundays 9am-1pm (March-November)
https://www.eatloco.org/
EatLoco Market at Loudoun Station
43777 Central Station Dr, Ashburn, VA 20147
Sundays 9am-1pm
https://www.eatloco.org/loudounstation
Farmers Market at Wheatland Spring Farm + Brewery
38506 John Wolford Rd, Waterford, VA 20197
Saturdays 11am-1pm (May-October)
https://www.wheatlandspring.com/farmers-market
Hillsboro Farmers Market
37098 Charles Town Pike, Purcellville, VA 20132
Sundays 1am-3pm (April 16-November 12)
https://www.facebook.com/people/Hillsboro-Farmers-Market/
LVHMC Cascade Farmers Market
21060 Whitfield Pl, Sterling, VA 20165
Sundays 9am-12pm from (April-November)
https://www.loudounfarmersmarkets.org/cascades
LVHMC Leesburg Farmers Market
Parking lot, 20 Catoctin Circle SE, Leesburg, VA 20175
Saturdays 9am-12pm (November 5-April 29), 8am-12pm (May 6-October 28)
https://www.loudounfarmersmarkets.org/leesburg-saturday
Middleburg Community Farmers Market
101 N Madison St, Middleburg, VA 20117
Saturdays 9am-12pm (May 20-October 28)
https://www.middleburgva.gov/297/Farmers-Market
PEC Gilberts Corner Market
US-50 & US-15, Virginia 20105
Saturdays & Sundays 10am-3:30pm (year-round)
https://www.pecva.org/region/loudoun/pec-s-gilberts-corner-farmers-market/
Wellness Connection Farmers Market
Stone Springs Hospital Parking Lot, 24440 Stone Springs Blvd, Dulles, VA 20166
Saturdays 9am-12pm (April-November)
https://wellnessconnectionllc.com/farmers-market/
Prince William County
Dale City Farmers Market
14090 Gemini Way, Dale City, VA
Sundays 8am-1pm (April-November), Winter Market 10am-1pm (December-March)
https://www.pwcva.gov/department/parks-recreation-tourism/farmers-market
Dumfries Farmers Market on Main
17749 Main Street, Dumfries, VA 22026
Saturdays 9am-2pm (April-September)
https://www.dumfriesva.gov/residents/dumfriesfarmersmarket.php
Haymarket Farmers Market
15000 Washington Street, Haymarket, VA 20169
Sundays 9am-1pm (April-November)
https://www.townofhaymarket.org/community/page/haymarket-farmers-market-1
Historic Manassas Farmers Market
9024 Prince William St, Manassas, VA 20110
Saturdays 8am-1pm (April-November)
https://historicmanassas.org/farmers-market/
Historic Manassas Thursday Market
Harris Pavilion, 9201 Center Street, Manassas, VA 20110
Thursdays 8am-1pm (April-October)
https://historicmanassas.org/farmers-market/
Lake Ridge/Tacketts Mill Farmers Market
2241 Old Bridge Rd, Lake Ridge, VA 22192
Tuesdays 3:30pm-6:30pm
https://www.facebook.com/tackettsmilltuesday/
Manassas Park Farmers Market
100 Park Central Plaza, Manassas Park, VA 20111
Wednesdays 3pm -7pm
https://www.manassasparkva.gov/welcome_guide/park_central_plaza_events/farmers_market.php
Prince William Market
7 County Complex Court, Woodbridge, VA
Thursdays 3pm-7pm (April-November)
https://www.pwcva.gov/department/parks-recreation-tourism/farmers-market
