USDA Farmers Market’s VegU Program

VegU is a popular fruit and vegetable education program launched at the USDA Farmers Market in 2016. Visitors can receive a "VegU-cation" and learn how to grow, pick, prepare and store a different fruit or vegetable by attending short 10-minute classes in the VegU tent between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. each week.

The USDA Farmers Market operates every Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. from May to October on the corner of 12th Street and Independence Ave SW in Washington, D.C.

Class Schedule

Each week, VegU focuses on one fruit or vegetable. Check out our schedule to see what we are covering in 2022:

2022 VegU Class Schedule (PNG, 249 KB)

USDA Farmers Market Events

Upcoming Events

To be announced.

Past Events

VegU Lunch and Learn Webinar: The National Mango Board – VegU Lunch and Learn Webinar featuring the USDA Research and Promotion Board: The National Mango Board. The 30 minute presentation is centered around how to grow, pick, prepare, store and enjoy mangos!

The USDA Farmers Market Newsletter

Subscribe to free newsletters and get updates about the USDA Farmers Market and VegU delivered to your inbox.

Get VegU-cated Online

Whether you want to get to know an unfamiliar vegetable or incorporate more fruits into your diet, we’ve made it possible for you to get a VegU-cation wherever you may live.

Our VegU recipes are available for you to prepare at home, or to showcase at a fruit and vegetable education program at your local farmers market. They are simple recipes which can be prepared quickly and that appeal to diverse audiences.

Our VegU radio excerpts are wildly entertaining and informative! They are recorded each week at the market.

Please see the below list:

Almonds

• VegU Recipe: Lemon Almond Green Beans (PDF, 976 KB) | VegU Fact Card: Almonds (PDF, 595 KB)
• VegU Radio: August 30 Culinary and Cultural Connections of Almonds (PDF, 162 KB) | VegU Radio: August 30 The Almond, the Whole Almond, and Nothing but the Almond (Well, the Tree too)! (PDF, 161 KB)

Apples

• VegU Radio: September 20 The Appeal of Apples (PDF, 172 KB) | VegU Radio: September 20 The Appeal of Apples Audio
• VegU Radio: September 20 More Apple Plexy (PDF, 165 KB) | VegU Radio: September 20 More Apple Plexy Audio

Apricots

• VegU Radio: June 21 Going Ape Over Apricots (PDF, 170 KB) | VegU Radio: June 21 Going Ape Over Apricots Audio
• VegU Recipe: Homemade Fruit and Herb Tea (PDF, 423 KB)

Asparagus

• VegU Recipe: Roasted Asparagus (PDF, 579 KB)
• VegU Recipe: Asparagus with Tomato and Feta (PDF, 226 KB)
• VegU Radio: May 3 Spearheading the Astounding Aspects of Asparagus (PDF, 102 KB) | VegU Radio: May 3 Spearheading the Astounding Aspects of Asparagus Audio

Blueberries

• VegU Recipe: Blueberry Cream Cheese (PDF, 419 KB)
• VegU Radio: June 28 A Blitz of Blazing Blueberries Part 2 (PDF, 167 KB) | VegU Radio: June 28 A Blitz of Blazing Blueberries Part 2 Audio
• VegU Radio: June 28 A Blitz of Blazing Blueberries Part 1 (PDF, 168 KB) | VegU Radio: June 28 A Blitz of Blazing Blueberries Part 1 Audio
• VegU Recipe: Honey Blueberry Sauce (PDF, 848 KB)

Cranberries

• VegU Radio: October 4 Cranberries for the Holidays and More (PDF, 167 KB) | VegU Radio: October 4 Cranberries for the Holidays and More Audio
• VegU Radio: October 4 Crashing the Holiday Cranberry Barrier (PDF, 169 KB) | VegU Radio: October 4 Crashing the Holiday Cranberry Barrier Audio
• VegU Radio: October 4 Cranberry Industry Working to Build Demand for its Growing Production (PDF, 167 KB) | VegU Radio: October 4 Cranberry Industry Working to Build Demand for its Growing Production Audio

Corn

• VegU Radio: September 6 Corn It's Everywhere (PDF, 166 KB) | VegU Radio: September 6 Corn It's Everywhere Audio
• VegU Radio: September 6 In Stalk of an Earful About Corn (PDF, 173 KB) | VegU Radio: September 6 In Stalk of an Earful About Corn Audio
• VegU Radio: September 6 In Stalk of Corn (PDF, 166 KB)

Dates

• VegU Radio: October 11 Pairing Up with your Perfect "Date" (PDF, 169 KB) | VegU Radio: October 11 Pairing Up with your Perfect "Date"
• VegU Radio: October 11 The "Date"-ing Game! (PDF, 154 KB) | VegU Radio: October 11 The "Date"-ing Game!
• VegU Recipe: Raw Date Brownies (PDF, 706 KB) | VegU Fact Card: Dates (PDF, 699 KB)

Grapes

• VegU Recipe: No Churn Grape Sorbet (PDF, 611 KB)
• VegU Radio: May 10 Grape Grins and Grimaces Part 2 (PDF, 89.7 KB) | VegU Radio: May 10 Grape Grins and Grimaces Part 2 Audio
• VegU Radio: May 10 Grape Grins and Grimaces (PDF, 97.3 KB) | VegU Radio: May 10 Grape Grins and Grimaces Audio

Kiwi

• Get VegU-cated: Kiwi
• VegU Recipe: Kiwi Overnight Oats (PDF, 387 KB)

Mangos

• VegU Recipe: Mango Yogurt Popsicles (PDF, 547 KB)
• VegU Radio: June 14 Mangoes on the March (PDF, 152 KB) | VegU Radio: June 14 Mangoes on the March Audio
• VegU Radio: June 14 Mango Mania (PDF, 107 KB) | VegU Radio: June 14 Mango Mania Audio
• VegU Radio: June 14 Mango Mania - Part 2 (PDF, 166 KB) | VegU Radio: June 14 Mango Mania - Part 2 Audio

Mushrooms

• VegU Radio: September 13 Consumers Want More Mushrooms than U.S. Farmers are Producing (PDF, 167 KB) | VegU Radio: September 13 Consumers Want More Mushrooms than U.S. Farmers are Producing Audio
• VegU Radio: September 13 Mushroom Muddles and Myths (PDF, 165 KB) | VegU Radio: September 13 Mushroom Muddles and Myths Audio

Olives

• VegU Recipe: Warm Spiced Olives (PDF, 650 KB) | VegU Fact Card: Olives (PDF, 445 KB)

Onions

• Get VegU-cated: Onions
• VegU Recipe: Onion Frittata (PDF, 182 KB)
• VegU Radio: May 31 Vital, Vibrant Vidalia Uses (PDF, 97.3 KB) | VegU Radio: May 31 Vital, Vibrant Vidalia Uses Audio
• VegU Radio: May 31 Checking the Vitals of Vivacious Vidalias (PDF, 97.5 KB) | VegU Radio: May 31 Checking the Vitals of Vivacious Vidalias Audio

Peach

• VegU Radio: July 26 Giving Peach a Chance (PDF, 167 KB) | VegU Radio: July 26 Giving Peach a Chance Audio
• VegU Recipe: Peachy Ginger Soup (PDF, 737 KB)

Peas

• VegU Recipe: Garlic Sesame Snow Peas (PDF, 170 KB)

Peppers

• VegU Recipe: Sweet Pepper Hummus (PDF, 714 KB)
• VegU Radio: August 16 Peppers Turning Up the Heat (PDF, 154 KB) | VegU Radio: August 16 Peppers Turning Up the Heat Audio

Pineapple

• VegU Radio: July 5 Provocative Pineapple Profiles and Puzzle (PDF, 167 KB)s | VegU Radio: July 5 Provocative Pineapple Profiles and Puzzles Audio
• VegU Recipe: Caramelized Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Grilled Pineapple (PDF, 275 KB)
• VegU Recipe: Spicy Grilled Pineapple (PDF, 272 KB)

Pistachio

• VegU Radio: August 23 Pistachios—Hard to Spell, Easy to Eat (PDF, 166 KB) | VegU Radio: August 23 Pistachios—Hard to Spell, Easy to Eat Audio
• VegU Recipe: Pistachio Pesto (PDF, 302 KB)

Prunes

• VegU Radio: July 19 Prunes It's a Movement (PDF, 154 KB) | VegU Radio: July 19 Prunes It's a Movement Audio

Pumpkins

• Get VegUcated: Pumpkins VegU Recipe: Thai Pumpkin Soup (PDF, 177 KB)

Raspberries

• VegU Recipe: Raspberry Blackberry Limeade (PDF, 796 KB)
• VegU Recipe: Raspberry Lemon Parfaits (PDF, 504 KB)
• VegU Radio: June 7 Rapid Raspberry Recipes (PDF, 98.7 KB) | VegU Radio: June 7 Rapid Raspberry Recipes Audio
• VegU Radio: June 7 Raspberry Razzmatazz (PDF, 242 KB) | VegU Radio: June 7 Raspberry Razzmatazz Audio

Salad Greens

• VegU Recipe: Hiraya Laing (PDF, 179 KB)

Spinach

• VegU Recipe: Spinach Coconut Curry (PDF, 782 KB)
• VegU Radio: June 18 Spinning a Special Spinach Spiel (PDF, 178 KB) | VegU Radio: June 18 Spinning a Special Spinach Spiel Audio 
• VegU Radio: May 17 Speaking Out for Spinach (PDF, 97.3 KB) | VegU Radio: May 17 Speaking Out for Spinach Audio
• VegU Radio: May 17 Spinach Through the Ages (PDF, 96.9 KB) | VegU Radio: May 17 Spinach Through the Ages Audio

Squash

• Get VegUcated: Squash
• VegU Recipe: Butternut Squash Fritters (PDF, 168 KB)

Strawberries

• VegU Recipe: Strawberry Jam (PDF, 615 KB)
• VegU Recipe: Strawberry Salsa (PDF, 931 KB)

Sweet Potato

• VegU Radio: July 12 A Symphony of Sweet Potato Nutrition (PDF, 168 KB) | VegU Radio: July 12  A Symphony of Sweet Potato Nutrition Audio
• VegU Recipe: Baked Sweet Potato Chips (PDF, 686 KB) and Curry Dip (PDF, 681 KB)

Tomato

• VegU Recipe: Tomato Salad (PDF, 654 KB)

Watermelon

• Get VegUcated: Watermelon
• VegU Recipe: Watermelon Caprese (PDF, 743 KB)
• VegU Radio: August 2 Watermelon Weddings and Other Melon Mysteries (PDF, 205 KB) | VegU Radio: August 2 Watermelon Weddings and Other Melon Mysteries Audio
• VegU Recipe: Watermelon Agua Fresca (PDF, 779 KB)