A concept rendering of the North County Farmers Market in Charlotte Hall.HOLLYWOOD, Md. (March 24, 2022)—The long-awaited North County Farmers Market, built off of Thompson Corner Road to replace the old farmers market site at the Charlotte Hall Regional Library, has been completed.
The market is located on Redstone Lane in Charlotte Hall and is set to be officially opened April 5. County economic development officials said this week that a portion of the market will be open to the public April 9.
Construction had stalled there in recent months as supply chain problems prevented electrical control components from being delivered, but they have now been installed.
The project consists of two distinct buildings built across from each other on the property; visitors driving in will see the year-round market on the left of the entrance road, with the seasonal market on the right.
The seasonal market will be open April 9, according to county economic development officials.
The uses for the space will include agricultural workshops, county public meetings, aggregation and distribution of farm products as well as some limited processing.
Both structures will resemble barns but the year-round market will have vendor space for value-added products—essentially taking raw agricultural products and selling them once they have been processed into more refined items—and a kitchen in a 5,100—square foot facility.
There will also be restrooms there, some of which may be available afterhours to service hikers and bikers on the nearby Three Notch Trail.
The accompanying seasonal market will be divided into 14 stalls to allow for farmers to bring their harvests to market, and will include a secured storage area so their items can be safeguarded by the property manager.
It will have the same square-footage as the vendor market.
The other agricultural-related projects being pursued by the county are the Regional Agricultural Center (RAC) to be located near Lettie Marshal Dent Elementary School in Mechanicsville and a slaughter house run by independent operators from the Amish community that is working towards certification by the USDA to butcher and process local livestock meats.
The three facilities are designed to meet a growing demand for local raised meats and locally grown produce sought after by consumers who want to know more about how their food is produced.
The county planning commission will hold a public hearing on the RAC March 28 in Leonardtown.
The slaughter facility, known as Westham Butcher Shop, LLC, located in Mechanicsville, received its U.S. Department of Agriculture certification in May of last year.
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