Photo by Amber Wilkie

The Ward 8 Farmers Market re-opens for the season today, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at THEARC’s parking lot, 1901 Mississippi Ave SE.

Celebrating its 13th year, founder John Gloster told The Root that the market’s viability is due to participating farmers’ close connection with the community.

“We’re very, very big on the idea that those people who have been left out of the equation need to have better [food] choices,” he told The Root.

Gloster describes his enterprise as a community self-empowerment project. He set-up the market after a nearby Safeway closed in the late-nineties.

Ward 8 Farmers Market
1901 Mississippi Ave. SE
9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Southern Avenue Metro, Congress Heights Metro

Check out The Washington Informer’s video of last year’s Ward 8 Farmers Market: