The Connection

Potomac residents have a new farmers market for their farm-to-table shopping this summer.

Opening for the first time Thursday, June 15, was the market at Cabin John Shopping Center at the corner of Seven Locks Road and Tuckerman Lane.

Customers arrived slowly but the pace was steady. Many shoppers said they did not know about the market, others said they had heard it was going to open and were there to see what was available.

Gaby Massie, of Potomac, said she saw an announcement of the market online. She was buying fresh vegetables with her children, Ana, 8, and Nicolas, 4.

“I love the fact that it’s here,” she said.

Amanda Elliott, of Rockville, on the other hand, was surprised to see the market set up in the corner of the center’s front parking lot. She and Adolfo Ferrario, of Rockville, were not shopping, just looking.

“We actually just drove into it,” Elliott said. “We were grabbing dinner in the shopping center and we saw it and thought we’d stop by.”

On its first day — the Cabin John Shopping Center Farmers Market will be open every Thursday from 3-7 p.m. until the last Thursday in September — the market had six vendors.

Metropolitain Baking Company of D.C. sold fresh baked breads plus flavored croissants; Richfield Farm, from Manchester, Md., had a selection of field greens, lettuces, vegetables and cut flowers. Mark Ross of Metro Microgreens from Rockville was busy explaining his crop, which look somewhat like sprouts, to shoppers.

“They are miniature versions of vegetables, grown hydroponically,” he said. “You use it for flavor and nutrition.”

He grows 15 varieties, he said, but only brought 12 to Thursday’s market. Among the microgreens he had were broccoli, wasabi and cilantro and he offered samples.

Truck Patch Farms from New Windsor, Md. had a variety of meats for sale including bacon, sausage, pork chops and butts, chicken and eggs. They also had a variety of greens and some fresh fruits, including raspberries.

“We specialize in smoked bacon, and we don’t use sprays or pesticides,” said Stacia Hughley, who does marketing for the farm.

She was helped behind the counter by Jaime Barrera, who also does farm work, he said.

Paul Ednie ran the market operation for Groff’s Content Farm in Rocky Ridge, Md. on Thursday. He explained that the farm’s name is an original name for a land grant in the 1700s. When owners Bob and Julie Bolton purchased the farm, he said, they researched the former owners and when they discovered the history, decided to keep the name.

Ednie was selling meats and both chicken and duck eggs. His stand also sells products from Hillside Pastures and Peacy Family Goat Dairy.

He was happy with the opening day response.

“I’ve got a lot of positive response,” he said. “People saying thanks for coming.”

More vendors are expected in the next few weeks, said Donne Malloy, the market master. Among those are Michelle’s Bakery, which, Malloy said, specializes in pies; Ruby Scoops, selling ice cream and sorbets; Ivy City Smokehouse with fresh seafood, and, she hopes, an orchard.

Malloy said that Edens, which bought the shopping center in December 2015, wanted a farmers market in the space and contacted her to make it happen. Halfway through the first session she said it was going well.

“Everybody’s been happy,” she said. “People are thrilled they have a market in their neighborhood.”

Linda Cohen, of Potomac, said she came to the market just to look but will definitely come back.

Beth Sheer, of Potomac, was happy about the farmers market.

“I think it’s a need the community has,” she said.