Organizers have been dropping first lady Michelle Obama’s name in their efforts to plop a farmers market into downtown Washington that would shut down an avenue near the White House during rush hour.

In late August, staff at FreshFarm Markets sent a note to the city Department of Transportation asking if they would be so kind as to shut down Vermont Avenue between H and I streets NW every Thursday from 1 to 8 p.m. from Sept. 17 until Oct. 29. In lobbying city officials, FreshFarm staff have bragged about their talks with the first lady — a vocal supporter of open-air markets.