By Erica Moser, News Correspondent
Farmers market season is starting up again and that means it’s time to scour the local venues for the juiciest peaches, the plumpest grapes and the sweetest corn. It’s the time to come home with a product that is or contains something you hadn’t heard of two hours prior. It’s the time to venture out with the goal of buying a few fresh fruits and veggies, and return wondering, “how did my wallet get so empty?” Check out this year’s farmers market offerings in Boston and beyond:
Copley Square Farmers Market
Large and well known among residents, the Copley Square Farmers Market comes across as the cornerstone of traditional farmers markets in Boston. Last July, the farmers market was part of a segment with America’s Test Kitchen filmed for the “Today Show.” Stop by Atlas Farms for some ground cherries, Iggy’s Bread for a fairly priced sandwich or Seta’s Mediterranean Foods for some hummus and babaganoush. Cape Cod Fish Share, a community-supported fishery run by a father-and-son team, sells seafood such as yellowtail flounder, golden tilefish, hake, Atlantic Pollock and grey sole, all caught through sustainable practices. Sprouted Raw Foods offers snacks such as Curry Zatar flax seed crackers, fig squares and kale onion crisps. Other finds might include apple cider doughnuts, zephyr squash, fresh fruit scones, lavender honey and sunflowers.
Open from: May 13 – Nov. 25; Tuesdays and Fridays, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Address: 139 St. James Ave.; Nearest T stop: Copley (green line)
South Boston Farmers Market
The South Boston Farmers Market, sponsored by the South Boston Community Health Center, is a solid choice for farmers market staples: fruits, vegetables, bread, herbs, plants and flowers. It is a project of the South Boston Women, Infants and Children Program, which aids pregnant and postpartum women, as well as children below the age of five, with nutrition education and supplemental food. A vendor highlight is Proofed Artisan Breads, which sells loaves in flavors such as rosemary cheddar, cranberry apple walnut, garlic and dill, peppercorn Parmesan and the ever popular loaded baked potato. Other vendors include Freita’s Farm, Wenger’s Farm, Mary’s Handmade Items and the Cape Cod Fish Share.
Open from: June 9 – Oct. 27; Mondays, 12 – 6 p.m.; Address: 446 W. Broadway St.; Nearest T stop: Broadway (red line)
Jamaica Plain Farmers Market
If you’re looking for food and only food – and don’t want your senses overwhelmed by a vast sprawl of stands – Jamaica Plain Farmers Market is the place to go. It was founded in 1984 and makes its home in a Bank of America parking lot. Try the original blend from Alex’s Ugly Sauce, made from Habanero, Cayenne and Serrano peppers; Alex alleges on his website that it took four years to come up with the “unique combination of heat and flavor.” Flats Mentor Farm sells unique produce such as Kohlrabi (cabbage with a turnip-like appearance), Miyashige (daikon radish) and Chi-Sin (Chinese mustard). The Hmong, an Asian ethnic group with their own language and culture, have been farming on Flats Mentor Farms’ land in Lancaster, Mass. since the early ‘80s. Other options include a Chocolate Guinness or Salted Caramel cupcake from The Cupcakory, the Queen of Chocolate mix from Golden Rule Honey or a variety of less common fruits from Still Life Farm.
Open from: May 17 – Thanksgiving; Saturdays 12 – 3 p.m., as well as Tuesdays 12 – 5 p.m. from June 17 – Nov. 1; Address: 677 Centre St.; Nearest T stop: Green St. (orange line), but more convenient from Northeastern to take the 39 bus.
Union Square Farmers Market
This is the place to go if you’re looking for something distinctive. Tipping Cow Ice Cream sells flavors such as Strawberry Basil and Sweet Corn. Last year, Matt’s the Amazing Smokehouse unveiled a new product: salmon bacon, which is cured smoked salmon belly. Soluna Garden Farm sells its own line of spice blends and herbal teas made from organic ingredients, along with rubs and salts. At Dan’s Brick Oven Bread, based in New Hampshire, Dan hand mills flour purchased from local farms for his sourdough bread. Lala’s Harvest produces jams and marmalades in flavors such as Heirloom White Peach Vanilla Bean, Meyer Lemon Lavender and Cranberry Sherry. Carr’s Ciderhouse sells artisanal hard cider made at a small, family-run operation in western Mass. And then there is Taza Chocolate, produced at its nearby factory in Somerville and commonly found at Whole Foods.
Open from: May 17 – Nov. 22; Saturdays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Nearest T stop: Sullivan (orange line)
Codman Square Farmers Market
The area had been a food desert for many years until the Codman Square Neighborhood Council founded the market, which is managed and run by young people from the neighborhood’s large youth population. While Codman Square is a bit of a hike from Northeastern, the market boasts a strong sense of community. Last summer, it was a hotspot for talks from the then-12 mayoral candidates. It offers a number of health-related activities, such as cooking demonstrations and nutrition classes, blood pressure readings and a weekly walk group. Other past events have included a salsa competition from Crossroads Café and Kids Day, where children can play chalk tic-tac-toe with veggies or help make pizza with the Community Bread Oven. For anyone willing to shell out $6-8 for a drink, Mother Juice sells concoctions such as a pineapple-carrot-watermelon juice, and a smoothie made from strawberries, raspberries, almond milk, agave, coconut, yogurt and flax. One can also find flowers at Ferrara Greenhouse, donuts and artisan breads at Great Cape Baking Co. and Afrocentric jewelry at Prime A Taste of Africa.
Open from: June 7 – Oct. 25; Saturdays 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Address: Corner of Washington Street and Talbot Avenue; Nearest T stop: Shawmut (red line)
SoWa Open Market
While the SoWa Farmers Market is neither the centerpiece of the market scene, nor a destination for affordable produce, no list of summer markets seems complete without it. Get a Rosemary Truffle, Barbeque or Cheese/Herb-flavored bag of Sal’s Homemade Potato Chips, or stop by the beloved Grillo’s Pickles. Q’s Nuts – founded by husband-and-wife duo Beth and Brian “Q” Quinn in 2000 – sells pecans, cashews and almonds in flavors such as Mexican Chocolate, Cayenne Mango and Bananas Foster. Other finds include pure maple syrup, fresh made ravioli and cheese. Besides the Farmers Market, SoWa also boasts an Arts Market, Vintage Market and an abundance of food trucks. Stop by Bon Me for a miso-braised pulled pork sandwich, Clover for an egg and eggplant pita or Cookie Monstah for an ice cream sandwich. If you like what you see here, check the Cambridge Open Market, from the creators of SoWa, Fridays June 27 – Aug. 22 in the plaza at Harvard.
Open from: May 4 – Oct. 26; Sundays 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Address: 500 Harrison Ave.; Nearest T stop: Broadway (red line) or Tufts Medical Center (orange line)
Photo courtesy Natalie Maynor, Creative Commons.
