Every first and third Saturdays of each month for about the past six years, shoppers stroll into the APPEAL office in Northeast Washington to buy goods “produced by Black people,” says Kelechi Egwin, Executive Director of APPEAL Inc. From spring to winter, the popular Farmer’s Market is added to the market with farm goods from Caroline County, Maryland farmer Kojo Yarbro (pictured on cover).

Through his network of Black farmers, Yarboro sells watermelons from Georgia and Florida during the early season while his watermelons in Maryland are still budding. “We grow our watermelons from black (natural) seeds,” he says with a double-entendre smile. While Yarboro offers sweet, red watermelons and an array of fresh, colorful vegetables outside the store front, inside shoppers browse for the usual soap and shea butter to the hard to find Black-manufactured toilet paper and clothes detergent.

Toilet paper sells for about $6 for 6 rolls for non-APPEAL members and $5 for members. “Membership is $50 per year,” adds Egwin. Members also gain access to discounts to their events.

The market offers plenty of free on-street parking and is only three minutes from the popular Nisey’s Boutique, The Glut Health Food store, and Asli Pure Natural Body Care in Mt. Rainier. Coming from Southeast Washington, Vanessa Petty adds, “After getting a watermelon and other stuff at APPEAL, I just take Bunker Hill Road right into Mt. Rainer to have a mini-outing for the day.”

The APPEAL market accepts credit card payment with no surcharges. The market is open every 1st and 3rd Saturdays; 2015 Bunker Hill Road, N.E.; Washington, DC; 1p-5p. The market now opens one hour earlier.

Port of Harlem is scheduled to be at the APPEAL Market Saturday, August 6, August 20, and September 3.