Farmers Market
The Farmers' Market at the NCI-Frederick is a producer-only Market located
within the Fort Detrick fence on the NCI property. During the regular season, which
runs from early June through late October, Market is held every Tuesday from 11:00
a.m. until 1:30 p.m. There are three Special Markets every year - a Special Spring
Market and Plant Sale held in early May (usually on the Tuesday prior to Mothers'
Day) and two Special Holiday Markets held on the Tuesdays prior to Thanksgiving
and Christmas. All Markets are held outdoors except for the November and December
Special Holiday Markets.
During the 2010-2011 winter, the first Winter Market season was held. Winter Market
is scheduled for every other Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. The 2012 Winter
Market begins on Tuesday, 10 January and ends on Tuesday, 29 May.
The 2012 Special Spring Market and Plant Sale is scheduled for Tuesday, 8 May. This
is a wonderful opportunity to get your seasonal bedding and vegetable plants and
also to get some Mothers’ Day shopping done.
Outdoor Market space is located outside the Building 549 Scientific Library and
cafeteria on Sultan Street (see visitor information and campus map at
http://ncifrederick.cancer.gov/About/VisitorsGuide.aspx). The Special November
and December Markets are held both inside Building 549 and outdoors.
Vendors may participate in a regular season Market on an abbreviated basis, but
a firm schedule for the visits will be developed. If a vendor is unable to be present
on a scheduled Market date, the vendor must contact the Market Manager in advance
(at least 24 hours) so customers can be notified of the absence. Many customers
shop at Market for specific vendors, and notifying them in advance of an absence
promotes good customer relations. All vendors/artisans/crafters will have assigned
locations, but those that come on an infrequent basis might not have a permanent
site. Because space is limited, only smaller vehicles can be accommodated.
All visitors to the facility must enter Fort Detrick through the Old Farm Visitor’s
Gate (visit website link provided above). Please keep in mind that visitor vehicles
are searched upon arrival, and all visitors must have photo ID's. Customers may
proceed directly to the Market; they do not need to stop by Building 426 to obtain
a Visitor’s Badge. Vendors who do not have a Fort Detrick ID Badge must allot time
to process through the Gate in order to be on time for Market. There will be no
vehicular entry, exit, or movement within Market space from 20 minutes prior to
the start of Market to the end. Customers may park in any nearby parking lots; do
not park in spaces marked "Reserved."
Interest in the Market is generated by sending out e-mail messages to employees
of the Frederick National Lab and Fort Detrick staff and tenants. Posters and flyers
are distributed, and announcements are put in the Fort Detrick Standard (newspaper)
and other facility newsletters. The Market is listed in several brochures sponsored
by the County and State as well as in the Washington Post and other independent
newspapers.
There is no fee to participate in the Farmers' Market, but every vendor will share
in the cost of the insurance policy sponsored by the Department of Agriculture,
State of Maryland, in which Market participates. This insurance covers general liability,
and, all Market participants will share equally in the cost of the insurance. Because
Market space and customer base are limited, we cannot support several vendors selling
the same products; we do maintain a waiting list for vendors offering products currently
available at the Farmers' Market.
It is the responsibility of each vendor to determine if any of their products require
Health Department "clearance" and to get that clearance. If the Health Department
makes a random market inspection, and a vendor is in violation, they could shut
down that vendor. Briefly, the homemade foods accepted by the Maryland Department
of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) "as being from an approved source at a farmer's
market" are the high acid fruit jelly, jams, and butters and non-potentially hazardous
baked goods. If you require additional information regarding this issue, please
contact the Frederick County Health Department.
The Farmers' Market at the Frederick campus is not authorized to accept Farmers'
Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) checks (WIC, seniors); therefore, even if you are
authorized to accept these FMNP checks at other markets, you may not accept them
at the Farmers' Market here. All vendors accept checks, some
accept credit cards, and an ATM is available in Building 549 through Comstar Credit
Union.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has become a popular way for consumers to
buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. The summer of 2011 marks the third
CSA season sponsored by several vendors at the Farmers' Market at the NCI-Frederick.
Farmers' Market at the NCI at Frederick
farmersmkt@mail.nih.gov
301-846-1956
Additional Information