Farmers markets are open for the season - here's where to go in Greater Gardner for produce

Emilia Cardona, Gardner News

Updated Fri, May 17, 2024 at 12:56 PM UTC

4 min read

Farmers markets give people the opportunity to meet the local growers who plant and raise local produce and make other farm-related products. This summer market season, Gardner residents have a new community farmers market to visit.

There are 215 farmers markets statewide, and surrounding the Greater Gardner area there are 17 markets in operation. For more information on the dozens of farmers markets held throughout the state visit the interactive MassGrown Map.

Here is a list of nine farmers markets held throughout North Central Massachusetts within a 30-minute drive of Gardner. The markets are listed in order of the days they are open.

Gardner Farmers Market

There are now two markets Gardner residents can visit to get local fresh produce and homemade goods. Longtime Gardner resident Nadine Smith has managed the first farmers market in the city for as long as she can remember. The market is open every Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. between May 9 and October 24 at 62 Waterford St.

The newest addition to the farmers market community is the second Gardner farmers market. The market will officially open on Saturday, June 15, and continue every third Saturday of the month through September. It is open from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. As the season approaches, Erica Bosse, the market's founder, said more details will be posted on its website at gardnerfarmersmarket.com.

Winchendon Farmers Market

The Winchendon Farmers Market is located in the new GAR Park at 55 Murdock Ave. The Winchendon market officially opens this Saturday, May 18, for the season and will be open every Thursday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the last day it's open is on Thursday, Oct. 26.

The Winchendon market consists of six vendors who sell various products, from fresh seasonal organic produce to handmade blankets and fresh baked goods. For more information on the vendors, visit the market's website at https://winchendonfarmersmarket.org/ or follow their Facebook page. All market vendors accept WIC payments and Senior Coupons.

On Saturday, July 22 the market had the Worcester-based Americana cover band The Hip Swayers perform live music. Dave Blodgett played the guitar and Toni Ostrow was on the bass and both did vocals.

Orange Farmers Market

The Orange Farmers Market has been open for 30 years and is currently located in the Armory Parking Lot on East Main Street. The market is open every Thursday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. through Thursday, Oct. 17. All vendors accept SNAP, senior coupons, and WIC.

Based in Orange, Rachel's Everlastings Farm and Florist is well known for their mason jar-sized homemade smoothies, salsa and pesto.

Fitchburg Farmers Market

The Fitchburg Farmers Market offers organic, fresh, homemade products from three local farms and five local craftspeople every Thursday afternoon from 3 to 5:30 p.m. A local band performs music, too. It's at 857 Main St. at the Historic Upper Commons in downtown Fitchburg. The market will officially open for the season on Thursday, June 6, and close on Oct. 24. All vendors accept WIC, Senior Coupons, and EBT-SNAP.

After the market closes for the season, it will only open for the first Thursday of the month between November and June from 3 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. in the Fitchburg Art Museum as part of the museum's first Thursday free admission day.

For more details on the participating vendors, go to https://www.fitchburgfarmersmarket.org/home.

Susan Sawyer, a local music instructor in Hubbardston, started Singing Valley Farm with her daughter Evie Brogan. The duo sells items that they produce from their home. They craft up cycle jewelry to handmade soaps and they preserve flowers from their own garden.

Westminster Farmers Market

The Westminster Farmers Market is the largest market in the region. Over 20 different vendors sell products and goods on Academy Hill Road every Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The last day of the market is Oct. 18. During the market, local musicians perform at the gazebo in the center.

The market's open season is from May until October every year. For more information on the market, subscribe to the newsletter on the market's website, westminstermafarmersmarket.com.

Valicenti Pasta Farm is a Hollis, New Hampshire, pasta company founded by professional chef David Valicenti. His pasta and sauce are available at the Westminster Farmers Market

Barre Farmers Market

About a dozen vendors sell various produce, baked goods, flowers, and artisanal pieces. The market is located on the historic Barre Common at 78 Common Street, and vendors accept SNAP and WIC forms of payment. The market is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information about the Barre farmer's market, visit their website at www.barrefarmersmarket.org or follow them on Facebook.

Ashburnham Farmers Market

The Ashburnham Farmer's Market is open every Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a rain date the following Sunday. It is located at Meetinghouse Hill on the top of Cushing Street across from the cemetery. For more information on the market and the vendors attending, follow the market's Facebook page.

This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Eight farmers markets in North Central Mass. offer great produce

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