This post was written by Hatchet staff writer Kendrick Chang.
The Foggy Bottom and West End Advisory Neighborhood Commission unanimously approved continuing a farmers market permit on 24th Street, which will allow the market to operate for its 11th year.
Since 2005, FRESHFARM Markets has managed a weekly farmers market in Foggy Bottom during the summer months. The market will resume on April 6 and will operate on Wednesday evenings through November.
Several community members at the meeting voiced complaints that the farmers market has not properly cleared the site in the past, leaving trash in the area.
Marina Streznewski, the president of the Foggy Bottom Association, said she has seen rats around the area after the farmers market closes down on Wednesday evenings.
“The Foggy Bottom Association continues to be supportive of the farmers market, but we have specific comments pertaining to the cleanliness of the area after vendors leave,” Streznewski said.
Megan Day, an operations manager for the market, said during the meeting that FRESHFARM Markets works with GW to coordinate trash pickups and is required within its permit with the city to leave the area in a clean condition.
“We want to make sure there are no veggie scraps and be the best vigilant neighbors in the area,” Day said. “I promise as manager to remind the vendors to make sure no trash is left behind and everything is put away.”
New vendors this year include an ice cream vendor and two new organic farms, Day said.
“We are excited to continue to be a great service to the community by selling fresh groceries from our partnering farms and prepared foods,” Day said.
The ANC also approved a motion to allow 51st State Tavern to reinstate its application to include live entertainment in its liquor license.
The liquor commission denied 51st State Tavern’s application last Monday after no representative from the business was present at a meeting to hear noise concerns from community members. ANC commissioners and community members raised concerns about noise at the February ANC meeting.
ANC Chairman Patrick Kennedy said Wednesday’s vote to allow 51st State Tavern to reinstate their application was procedural to keep a dialogue open between both parties.
“My sense is that they are open but we need to get something in writing to outline the equipment to restrain noise levels and stipulate which acoustic instruments should not be played,” Kennedy said. “It is pending whether 51st Tavern wants to appeal their application but the ANC wants to be part of the process to resolve the community’s concerns.”