Your guide to finding farmers markets and CSA’s in greater Boston year-round!
Below are some of my favorite places to shop for local, fresh, sustainable and organic vegetables, fruit, produce, meat, dairy and specialty foods. I am always looking for new haunts – let me know if you have a favorite not listed here!
Massachusetts Resources
Massachusetts Farmers Markets – list of all Farmers Markets in MA. You can search by location, days of the week or specific vendors or products – a great resource!
Mass Grown: Your gateway to MA grown products, farms and specialty foods. They have a comprehensive listing and you can search using a variety of criteria.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA’s) Farm Shares
Local Harvest – A great resource for community supported agriculture (CSA’s) in MA with a searchable database. World PEAS out of Lowell is my personal favorite sustainable CSA. They support local immigrant farmers and have a greater variety of fruit and produce as well as reasonable share prices.
Walden Local Meats: A meat CSA that works with a number of local farms. They deliver monthly free of charge to most areas in greater Boston. All of their suppliers pledge not to use pesticides, herbicides or antibiotics of any kind.
Chestnut Farms CSA – They are my favorite local farm and their meat and fruit and veggie CSA’s are fantastic!
Cape Ann Fresh Catch – the largest seafood CSA in the country and the only one in Massachusetts. They have a ton of delivery/pick up sites around greater Boston. You can read more about the great work they do to support sustainable fishing here.
Local Markets/Grocers in Greater Boston
Russo’s – How do I love Russo’s? Let me count the ways! Best place around to get everything from your Christmas tree to wild baby Shitake mushrooms. They have a huge produce section with lots of ethnic offerings and a great bakery (not much gluten-free) and meat/cheese selection. You can find them at 560 Pleasant Street in Watertown.
Wilson Farm – They have a farm stand and nursery and have a good selection of natural meats and cheeses as well as prepared foods and baked goods (not much-gluten free however). You can find them at 10 Pleasant Street in Lexington.
Allandale Farm They have a farm stand and a CSA. They close for the season December 23rd. Located at 259 Allandale Road in Brookline, Chestnut Hill.
Natick Community Organic Farm – small market but a great farm with ties to the local community. Offers a lot of educational programs and volunteer opportunities. They can be found at 117 Eliot Street in Natick and they are open from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm M-F.
Volante Farms – 292 Forest Street in Needham. Open M-F 8am -7 pm and Sat-Sun 8 am – 6pm.
Winter Farmers Markets Around Boston
Win
ter Markets and CSA Guide – A great guide to winter markets and CSA’s created by Babson College.
Boston Public Market – A permanent year-round market located at 100 Hanover Street at Haymarket Station in Boston. Open 8am – 8pm Weds-Sunday.
Somerville Winter Farmers Market – every Saturday from 9:30 am – 2:00 pm at the Center for Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave, Somerville (parking lot behind the building)
Cambridge Winter Farmers Market – Saturdays 10am – 2pm, January 9th – April 30th. They have local food, live music, arts & crafts, special events. You can find them inside the gymnasium of
Cambridge Community Center at 5 Callender Street.
Lexington Winter Farmer Market – Every other Saturday 10 am – 2 pm: January 9th & 23rd; February 6th & 20th; and March 5th & 19th at Lexington Community Farm, 52 Lowell St, Lexington.
Wayland Winter Farmers Market – January 9th – March 12th, 2016, Saturdays – 10:00 – 2:00 at Russell’s Garden Center at 397 Boston Post Road in Wayland. I have not been there yet but heard great things. Check out this review of all their great local vendors!
Natick Farmers Market — Common Street Spiritual Center, Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., October-April.
Brookline Farmers Market — Arcade, 318 Harvard St., Sundays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Farmers Market Vendors
These are just some of my favorites:
Chestnut Farms – my very favorite vendor for chicken and pork. You have not tasted bacon or chicken thighs until you have eaten them from Chestnut Farms! They have a CSA and can be found at local farmers markets in Lexington, Arlington, Newton and Natick.
Grateful Farm – one of the few totally organic local farms. Based in Franklin, they have a great selection of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as herbs and flowers. You can find them at local farmers markets and they have a CSA.
Stillman’s Farm – I love their meats! They offer a CSA and in addition to vending at a number of farmers markets you can find them year-round at the Boston Public Market Wednesday – Sunday from 8am – 8pm at 100 Hanover Street and other market locations listed here.
Copicut Farms – love their eggs and chicken! Based in Dartmouth, you can find them at local markets and they have a CSA.