Located in Greenbelt, Maryland, the Greenbelt Farmers Market, Inc. (GFM) provides fresh, nutritious, high-quality food grown or produced in the region. The purpose of this venture is:
- to provide a venue for farmers and other vendors to bring fresh, nutritious, high-quality food grown or produced in the region to Greenbelt and neighboring communities;
- to foster direct connections between local shoppers and small-scale farmers and food producers;
- to enhance the Greenbelt Roosevelt Center by providing a friendly, central setting for shopping and socializing; and
- to help combat climate change by fostering a more sustainable food system that reduces the carbon footprint of consumers.
The Greenbelt Farmers Market is a on-going project that began in June 2008 in the Greenbelt Community. Farmers that have been accepted into the market sell their food and processed food items on Sunday mornings, May through November from 10am to 2pm. It is sustained financially through a series of grants and assessed vendor fees.
GFM also seeks to:
- Increase support for local farmers
- Increase stewardship of farmland and, ultimately, the Chesapeake Watershed
- Deepen connections between farmers and residents of Greenbelt and neighboring towns, thus giving consumers a greater appreciation and understanding of farming practices and food production
- Facilitate connections between market vendors and local retail, such as the Greenbelt CO-OP Supermarket & Pharmacy and the New Deal Cafe
- Improve nutrition within the community by providing a greater variety of accessible and affordable fresh and local produce
- Encourage greater interaction among diverse populations to create a stronger, more cohesive community
