A new farmers market could be coming to Green Valley next year.
Documents filed with the county last week outline plans to host a market on Friday evenings at John Robinson, Jr. Town Square. A statement of justification filed by CARE, Inc. promises “a convenient, varied market of local food producers and vendors that will provide culturally relevant products, information and services to foster community spirit and improve the nutritional experience.”
Operating from 5-8 p.m. between late April and November, the Green Valley farmers market would also seek to combat food insecurity and answer some community concerns about public safety and drug use in and around the park at 2400 S. Shirlington Road.
“The Green Valley Civic Association is constantly questioned about negative behaviors in this area,” a statement of justification says. “We believe that the negative behaviors are not prevalent when activities are programmed on the stage or in the area of the [town square].”
Located across the street from The Shelton, an affordable housing building, the market would accept SNAP and would also offer cooking demonstrations and other information on how to prepare the produce sold there.
The line outside the nearby Arlington Food Assistance Center site is often half a block long during food distributions, prospective Market Manager Portia Clark told ARLnow. But not everyone who could benefit utilizes AFAC and too many families in the neighborhood sometimes miss meals or go without healthy food, she said.
“We have a lot of people saying they just won’t show up because they’re not needy, but then they just sit at home and be hungry,” she said.
Clark, who is also president of the Green Valley Civic Association, said part of the problem is limited access to groceries in Green Valley. Food insecurity is especially bad in the summer, she said, as some children who get free and discounted lunch at school don’t have other food to eat at home.
“They don’t have food sites that they can go to, or it’s not being advertised well enough that they know where they can go out and get a meal if they’re hungry,” Clark said.
The square near Drew Park and the Charles Drew Community Center is already a popular gathering spot for many current and former neighborhood residents. However, reports of public intoxication and occasional violent crime — including several shots fired calls in 2023 — have hurt the area’s reputation.
Clark hopes a farmers market on Friday evenings can help curb issues and change public perceptions.
“We’re trying to bring more of a positive atmosphere, where people don’t just know Green Valley for all of the negative things that happen,” she said.
Plans for the farmers market call for about 10 to 12 vendor tents to begin with, though the park is big enough to hold up to 20 vendors. Tents could begin setting up as early as 3 p.m., and parking along S. Shirlington Road and 24th Street S. would be reserved for vendors and food trucks on market days.
Dr. Charles Drew Elementary School, Macedonia Baptist Church and Lomax African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church have all offered to let customers park in their parking lots, according to the statement of justification. The closest existing farmers market is about two miles away, operating on Sundays at 2820 Columbia Pike.
Clark had originally hoped to open a market in Green Valley this spring, but hit a series of delays in acquiring a permit. She now expects her proposal to go before the Arlington County Board in October.
