Farmers’ markets offer fresh, locally grown foodDate: 6/7/2021 WESTERN MASS. – Spring is in full swing and summer is on the way, and with all of the gorgeous weather, activities outdoors – including local farmers’ markets – are popping up all over Western Mass.
Reminder Publishing took the opportunity to feature several of our local farmers’ markets for residents near and far to enjoy. Note: this is not a complete listing of farmers’ markets in our area, merely a smattering of markets listed alphabetically by town.
Center Fresh Farmers’ Market
Chicopee
Chicopee kicked off its newest farmers’ market on June 3. The Center Fresh Farmers’ Market will take place in Chicopee Center from June to October. It will run Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The farmers’ market will host a variety of local vendors and food trucks such as Crave Food Truck, Bardwell Farm, Wickedly Wild Gourmet Sauces, Auntie Cathy’s Kitchen, Goodworks Coffee House, Creative Descent Woodworking and more. The market will accept SNAP benefits.
According to Julie Copoulos, director of the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, one goal of the market is to bring fresh food sources to people in need.
“The city of Chicopee is very excited to be a partner in this farmers’ market. It started as a way to bring fresh food options to a place in the city that obviously has been hit hard by COVID. Chicopee Center certainly has a high rate of food insecurity and so the city of Chicopee is really committed to alleviating that,” said Copoulos.
Copoulos said that she is excited for the opportunity to get people out and about downtown.
“We’re excited to bring more foot traffic downtown and hopefully the local businesses will benefit from that,” she said.
Those interested in learning more about the Center Fresh Farmers’ Market are encouraged to visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/centerfreshchicopee/.
Valley Opportunity Council Farmers’ Market
Chicopee
The Valley Opportunity Council (VOC) also hosts a yearly farmers’ market in Chicopee. On VOC’s website, there have not been any updates made about the market since the 2020 season. In past years, the market has run on Wednesdays from July to Sept. from 10 a.m to 2 p.m
Copoulos said that she hopes the Center Fresh market can work to complement that market rather than compete with it.
“We’ve been talking about how we can partner and make these two markets stronger together. We are anticipating that they will be complementary to each other. We’re not going to be competing for vendors and we are hoping to do some cross-promotion so we can really get the word out that you can walk to the farmers’ markets in your community,” she said.
Future updates on VOC’s farmers’ market can be seen on their website at https://www.valleyopp.com/.
Fresh Fridays Farmers’ Market
East Longmeadow
Fridays are going to be fresh this summer thanks to the East Longmeadow Recreation Department’s “Fresh Fridays” Farmers’ Market. One day each month, farmers, artisans and food vendors from around the area will set up at Center Field, at the corner of Shaker Street and Maple Court from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Each month will have 10 to 15 vendors from around the area set up at Center Field offering produce and other food as well as jewelry and crafts.
The farmers’ market will run May 14, June 11, July 16 and Aug. 13, but will be replaced with a “Fall Fest” on Sept. 10 and Oct. 8. Town Manager Mary McNally said that those events will offer seasonal items, such as apples and pumpkins, and be open until 7:30 p.m. Rain dates for each of the markets will be the following Friday. Vendors and shoppers can park at the library, near the Jay-cee building and near Leahy Field and stroll through the pop-up market while listening to acoustic musicians.
Otis Farmers’ Market
East Otis
The Otis Farmers’ Market runs from May through October on Saturdays from 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. at 2000 East Otis Road, East Otis.
The Market accepts credit cards, WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program.
The Market features local, fresh produce and more, including baked goods, cheese, arts and crafts, flowers, jams, maple products, meats, plants, poultry, eggs, coffee and more.
Holyoke Farmers’ Market
Holyoke
The Holyoke Farmers’ Market kicked their season off on May 22. The market, on 164 Race St. between the hours of 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., will take place each Saturday until Oct. 16. Both SNAP and HIP benefits are accepted through all vendors.
Vendors featured at the market include D&R Farm, Atlas Farm, Agric Organics, Bath Thyme Soap Shop, Blu Angle Flame Co., Crave Food Truck, Mr. Whippey Soft Swirl, NA Brews Corp. from Holyoke, Pure Life Soaps, Sammy’s Greens, South View Farm, Terra Pots, Valley Malt/Ground Up, Yarb Patch and From the Source Fungi.
Granville Farmers’ Market
Granville
The Granville Farmers Market, located at 223 Granby Road in Granville, is open the second and fourth Sunday of the month through September from 1-5 p.m.
The Market accepts credit cards and WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. The Market has an array of local vendors.
Farmers’ Market at Forest Park
Springfield
The Farmers’ Market at Forest Park opened for the season on May 5. The market, which will take place every Tuesday from 12:30 to 6 p.m. until Oct. 26 in the Cyr Arena parking lot located at 200 Trafton Rd., features a variety of vendors each week. While some vendors may only be at the market a few times throughout the course of the season, some weekly vendors market-goers can expect include Batch Ice Cream, Berkshire Mountain Bakery, Velma’s Kettle Corn, Red Fire Farm, From the Source Fungi, Riverbend Farm, the Bearded Bee, White Buffalo Herbs, Wood Creations by Esther, Home Fruit Wine and the Thai Chili Food Truck.
Residents are required to wear masks while at the market, socially distance and not allowed to have open food or drink in the market area. Those interested in attending the market are asked to use the Forest Park entrance via Tafton Road. Updates regarding vendors, hours and other information can be found on the Farmers’ Market at Forest Park Facebook page.
Farmers’ Market at Holy Cross Church
Springfield
Beginning on June 6 and running through Oct. 24, Holy Cross Church, 222 Plumtree Rd. (just off Roosevelt Ave.) will host a Farmers’ Market every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine. The market will feature fresh local produce, homemade baked goods, and handmade crafts in a warm community atmosphere. New vendors welcome, to display contact Frank Ryan, sbanut2018@gmail.com
Downtown Farmers’ Market
Springfield
The sixth annual Downtown Farmers’ Market kicked off at 11 a.m. on May 21 in a new location, Duryea Way and Stearns Square, off Worthington Street in downtown Springfield. Dozens of local artisans, farmers and vendors will offer fresh produce, food items and more at the Market every Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Sept. 24.
Westfield Farmers’ Market
Westfield
Hosted on the lawn of the Episcopal Church of the Atonement, 36 Court St., Westfield, the Westfield Farmers’ Market is open Thursdays from noon to 5 p.m. now through the early fall season.The Market accepts SNAP and major credit cards.
“We have a nice balance of farms, food and crafts this year,” said Director Mary Kadomoto, adding, “including several returning vendors and new vendors.” Vendors who are new to the market include Berkshire Mountain Bakery, offering a variety of freshly baked breads, croissants, muffins, cookies and more; AeroGreen Urban Farm, featuring aeroponic/hydroponic greens including lettuce blends, arugula, spinach, beet greens, chard, kale and more; Mark’s Clay Creations, selling handmade polymer clay jewelry and leather goods, and Growing with Minerals, offering arugula, lettuces, greens, turnip, beets, carrots, and other vegetables grown with an emphasis on soil health.
During the market there will be rotating live musicians and Sweet Chili’s food truck will also serve ready-to-eat Thai food.
For more information and a complete list of vendors, musicians and special events, visit westfieldfarmersmarket.org.
Main Street Farmers’ Market
Wilbraham
The Main Street Farmers’ Market will offer products from 20 different vendors, including organic veggies and microgreens, organic bagged coffee and cold brew, chocolate, cupcakes, pies, jam, craft hard cider, gourmet popcorn and fresh lemonade. A rotating line-up of food trucks will visit the market.
There will also be vendors selling non-food products, such as live edge/epoxy wood creations, home décor and repurposed furniture, and handcrafted baby items, bar soaps and blacksmith works.
The Main Street Farmers’ Market will be at 500 Main St., on Thursdays, June 3 to Sept. 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Because the market is at the church, participants can park along Main Street or at the rear of the building. A full list of vendors can be found at https://www.facebook.com/WilbrahamFarmersMarket.
Easthampton Farmers Market
Easthampton
The Easthampton Farmers Market kicked off their 2021 summer season on May 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 50 Payson Ave.
According to Julie Tuman, the owner of Crooked Stick Pops, the farmers market will occur every Sunday at the same time and location until Oct. 10.
While the number of vendors participating each Sunday will vary, Tuman said that there are a “a couple” of completely new vendors that will be present throughout the summer season. New vendors include Easthampton Cider Project, Lovefield Farm from Easthampton, and Plum Island Trading Company. Easthampton Cider Project offers small scale, craft cider from New England, while Lovefield Farm specializes in growing “healthy produce” and sequestering carbon on their farm. Plum Island, meanwhile, focuses on making jams.
According to Tuman, all eight of the vendors that participated in the 2020 farmers’ market will be returning for this year’s summer market. So far, the vendors who have participated during the first two Sundays include AeroGreen Urban Farm, Bread and Me, Crooked Stick Pops, Easthampton Cider Project, Gwydyr Farm, Irida Pierogi, LifeBooch Kombucha, Mayval Farm, Sade Meadow Farm, Buen Provecho, and Sweet Morning Farm. The three new vendors have also participated in at least one of the two Sundays so far.
“One of our bakers, Bread and Me, will only be there once a month,” said Tuman, who also added that Plum Island will be present every other week. “We have a couple of folks who are joining us later in the season.”
A few of the vendors from this year’s summer market also participated in the winter market that lasted from November 2020 to March 2021. That market occurred weekly from November to December and every first and third Sunday of the month from January until March.
“I think the thing we’ll all be looking forward to the most is a slow and safe return to a bit of normalcy,” said Tuman, when asked what she is most excited for.
The 2020 market featured a one-way flow of traffic and other regulations provided by the Easthampton Board of Health. This year, however, Tuman said that people will be able to walk freely throughout the market and find what most interests them.
“We have such a wonderful community in Easthampton,” said Tuman. “The Farmers’ Market is so well-supported … throughout our city and then from the neighboring cities, as well. It’s that lovely community event where people come together to celebrate local agriculture and locally-made products.”
Updates for the upcoming Sundays can be found on the Easthampton Farmers’ Market Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/EasthamptonFarmersMarket.
Northampton Farmers’ Market
Northampton
The Northampton Farmers’ Market takes place on Gothic Street each Saturday through November.
This market touts itself as a growers only market, meaning all of the vendors only sell items that are grown or produced on their own farms – including plants, flowers, produce, fruit, meat, and eggs, cheese, maple syrup, crafts, and prepared foods.
Vendors include Westhampton’s Intervale Farm and Outlook Farm and Easthampton’s LifeBooch and Pepin Farm.
For more information, visit the market’s website at www.northamptonfarmersmarket.com/ or their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/northamptonsaturdaymarket.
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