Farmers markets are dotted around the Washington, D.C., area on weekends, and they’re “great for everyone involved.”

WTOP/Dick Uliano

WTOP/Dick Uliano

WTOP/Dick Uliano

WTOP/Dick Uliano

WTOP/Dick Uliano

WTOP’s Dick Uliano reports on how Washington, DC area farmers’ markets are important to the local economy.

In the DC area, weekends are the time of year when farmers markets of all sizes open up, allowing customers to browse and purchase a wide variety of products, from fruits and vegetables to meat, poultry and eggs, as well as baked goods and specialty produce.

“The things I buy at the farmers market always seem to be fresher, more local, probably from a farmer within 100 miles of here,” Washington, D.C. resident Liz Herman said Saturday as she bought fresh fruits and vegetables at the farmers market in Washington, D.C.’s Mount Vernon neighborhood.

Mount Vernon’s Saturday market dwarfs the much larger farmers market held every Sunday at Dupont Circle. There are also farmers markets in Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, and throughout Northern Virginia. A large farmers market is also held every Sunday on the grounds of Bethesda Elementary School.

“Farmers markets are really great for everyone involved,” said Sarah Sharp, an agricultural extension agent with Virginia Tech.

She said farmers markets contribute to the local community by providing fresh, healthy food options, adding that it’s also great for the participating farmers because they can get their produce to a local market directly to consumers.

“The produce that you’re buying could have been picked that morning, and it really doesn’t get any fresher than that,” Sharp says. “The money that the farmers receive goes back into the community, so it’s really a cycle that we’re able to help.”

While many people impulsively stop by a farmers market when they’re passing by, it’s a good idea to do a little planning before checking out the fresh food stalls.

“You definitely don’t want to cook produce in your car,” Sharp said. “If you’re buying meat, poultry, eggs or any other foods that need to be refrigerated, make sure you have a way to keep them refrigerated.”

She says that could be a cooler box, a cooler bag with ice, or anything that will help keep those items at a safe temperature until they get to your refrigerator or freezer.

Sharp says it’s also a good idea to bag items separately — for example, it’s not a good idea to bag meat or poultry with produce.

“You want to avoid cross-contamination,” Sharp says, “so one thing you can do is always have one grocery bag that you put your vegetables in, and always have another bag that you put your meat or poultry in.”

While tomatoes and peaches at the farmers market may look delicious, shoppers are being advised to stay away.

“I tell people, you want to pick up a tomato, pick up an apple, feel how firm it is. [to] “Before you pick it up and touch it, think about all the other people who have touched it as well,” said Sharp, who encourages people to avoid touching produce they don’t intend to buy.

Finally, Sharp reminds customers to always wash their fruits and vegetables.

“Whether you buy them at the supermarket or farmer’s market, it’s best to wash them when you get them home, especially fruits and vegetables, before eating them,” she says. “You don’t need to buy special fruit or vegetable washes; simply washing them under regular running water will remove many of the microorganisms and bacteria that live on fruits and vegetables.”

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