Fairfax County’s farmers markets are going plastic-free this month.
Starting tomorrow (Wednesday) through July 28, visitors to the Fairfax County Park Authority’s farmers markets are encouraged to bring reusable shopping bags in support of Plastic Free July, a global initiative fighting plastic pollution.
Many markets will also have engaging activities, reusable bag giveaways, and demonstrations by environmental partners on how to shop without plastic bags.
“The movement has already influenced more than 100 million participants in 190 countries, and the Park Authority is looking to add to those numbers through its farmers markets all month long,” the county website says.
The initiative aims to highlight the harmful effects of plastic pollution — which introduces 33 billion pounds of waste into the marine environment annually — and to promote a cleaner, healthier community by reducing single-use plastics that often aren’t accepted by recycling centers.
To support the campaign, the park authority has teamed up with the environmental nonprofit Clean Fairfax to provide produce vendors with shopping baskets and compostable bags. Additionally, they will be giving away 5,000 washable produce bags and 2,500 reusable shopping bags to customers.
Below is a list of ongoing farmers markets across the county between now and December.
Wednesdays
- McCutcheon/Mount Vernon: April 17-Dec. 18, 8 a.m. to noon at Sherwood Library (2501 Sherwood Hall Lane)
- Oakmont: May 1-Nov. 6, 8 a.m. to noon at the Oakmont Recreation Center (3200 Jermantown Road, Oakton)
- Wakefield: May 1-Oct. 30, 2-6 p.m. at Wakefield Park (8100 Braddock Road, Annandale)
Thursdays
- Annandale: May 2-Nov. 14, 8 a.m. to noon at Mason District Park (6621 Columbia Pike)
- Herndon: May 2-Nov. 7, 8 a.m. to noon at 700 Block of Lynn Street (by the Red Caboose)
Fridays
- McLean: May 3-Nov. 15, 8 a.m. to noon at Lewinsville Park (1659 Chain Bridge Road)
- Kingstowne: May 3-Oct. 25, 3-7 p.m. in the Giant parking lot at 5870 Kingstowne Towne Center
Saturdays
- Burke: April 20-Dec. 21, 8 a.m. to noon in the VRE parking lot at 5671 Roberts Parkway
- Reston: April 27-Dec. 7, 8 a.m. to noon at Lake Anne Village Center (1609-A Washington Plaza)
Sundays
- Lorton: May 5-Nov. 10, 8 a.m. to noon in the VRE parking lot at 8990 Lorton Station Blvd
