Ian, Atwaters, Fresh Farm's Foggy Bottom Farmers Market

Kid by the metro: "THAT GUY GOT ONE SWIRL ON HIS HEAD!"
Ian walks by passively. 

Ian is quite quiet. Despite his enormous smile that lights up the stand, he isn't the most outgoing vendor I have interacted with. He is dressed in lightly colored pants, a t-shirt and a cardigan. He stands slightly behind the stand. Reaching over the glass to help customers, the personal interaction is cut short by the massive amounts of bread in front of him. Right before closing, all the bread is almost completely sold out; leaving Ian with only a couple of loaves. The large sign behind him represents much more than the single stand. Atwaters is located in Southern Baltimore. The company has over 240 employees with only three to four bakers. Their sixth storefront is about to open up. Atwaters was started 4 years ago with 2 guys selling one type of bread in one farmers market. By now they are in almost every farmers market within the DMV area, continuing to sell to the people that help established them. They are a symbol for the rapid paced growth that farmers markets facilitates. Ian, himself, has worked for Atwaters for two years. He works three markets a week: two in DC and one in Fort Mead. He found the job through a friend at school and has enjoyed it despite neither farming nor food being his focus in school. Ian studied linugistics and anthropology at UMBC. Sadly, Ian is about to move to Boston, leaving Atwaters and all his farmers markets behind. A small employee in a large scheme, Ian is knowledgeable not only about his role in the business but the business itself. He graciously talks to me for a while. Continuing conversation as I wander around the market, his artistic personality becomes more apparent. I spoke to another Atwaters employee about Ian, a coffee reliant, sleep deprived Sarah who works across from me at the Palisades farmers market on Sundays. She laughs when I tell her about how the schoolboy teased Ian. "He really said that" she yells," a swirl!!!! God, I am gonna tease him so much about that. I love to tease Ian.......especially about his hair and mustache." Ian, I am sure, will laugh but quietly take it.

Will, Blue Spring Hill Farm, Fresh Farm's Foggy Bottom Famers Market

(Interrupts while I am interviewing another vendor...with a big smile on his face) 
"Don't talk to her she is crazy"

Will stands behind the stand in the same position, the entire time, every single time. Two hands strongly gripping a box, with a half smile on his face, he greets all the customers that enter his stand. He has a slightly affectionate Southern accent.Will has interned on Blue Spring Hill Farm for two months. The farm is located in Clear Spring, Maryland. The farm employs three interns to help grow the flowers and vegetables, and sell at the farmers markets. The farm is self-susitaining and everything grown on it is organic. Will himself is from the Eastern Shore and found the job online. Will works four markets a week; three of them are located within Washington D.C. and one is located in Maryland. Will's easy going personality, and clear passion for farming makes him a natural at the farmers market. He loves the markets because he gets to meet different and learn something new every single day. In 5 years he dreams of owning a farm in Kansas. Will is the easiest person to talk to. He quietly interacts with customers, unexpectedly energetic however not overbearing. Will may not be a salesman but he is a real sweet farmer.