Farmer's Markets
(for a fuller listing of vendors at each site, visit massfarmersmarkets.org.)
Allston
Where: Parking Lot at N Harvard & Western Ave
Technically this is in Cambridge (we think) just over the other side of the bridge
When: Wednesdays, 3:00 - 7:00pm
Arlington
Where: Russell Common Parking Lot - Arlington Center
When: Wednesdays, 1 to 6:30, June 11 - Oct 29
What's it like: Lush and festive; exotic produce by midsummer and plenty of standards to go around. Especially good for fruit in our experience, and a particularly lively scene. Yes, in Arlington.
Belmont
Where: Belmont Center, Cross St. parking lot (Belmont Center shopping district)
When: Thursdays, 2 to 6:30, June 14 - October 25
What it's like: A bit unlikely and hard to find, behind downtown Belmont's excuse for a strip mall. (Which includes the world's smallest, most irrelevant Macy's.) Predictably, this market is a bit more posh (feeling) than others. But you've got meat (Stillman's), mozzarella (Fiore di Nonno), and enough veggie stands for you to browse and find the best deals.
Boston - City Hall Plaza
Where:The Cambridge Street side of the plaza, if you're coming from Tremont
When: Mondays and Wednesdays, 11 to 6, May 28 - Nov 26
What it's like: Light on the organic growers, but sort of fun all the same. More ethnically diverse fruits and veggies than most, and garrulous sellers who will urge you to try them. There's also "Conventional," stuff that is obviously not grown around here (grapes, bananas), which you could buy at a grocery store, but also plenty of genuine local tomatoes and greens and eventually corn.
Boston - Copley Square
Where: In front of the Trinity Church, impossible to miss
When: Tuesdays and Fridays, 11 to 6, May 20 - Nov 25
What it's like: Sort of outrageously cool. Copley is as city as Boston gets, in a way, and there, in the middle of all the tourists and dudes in suits and kids, is a thriving market scene, and they all use it. You can find produce, with a handsome offering of organic stuff. Prepared foods, including apple cider donuts in the fall. Soaps and other non edibles, and this may be the only market with the good sense to sell coffee too.
Boston - South End Open Market
Where: Parking Lot at Harrison Avenue & Waltham Street
When: Sundays, 10 to 5 pm, May 20 - Oct 28
Brookline
Where: Centre Street West Parking Lot - near Coolidge Corner off Beacon Street
When: Thursdays, 1:30- to dusk, June 19 - Oct 30
Cambridge - Central Square
Where: Corner of Bishop Allen Drive & Norfolk Street
(If you're in the produce section of Harvest Co-op, go out the door; the market is in that parking lot)
When: Mondays, 11:30 to 6, from June 1 - Nov 24
What it's like: Lots of bread products! Several cuts of beef + pork, but it sells out early. Organic and slightly less organic growers.
Cambridge - Charles Square
Where: Charles Hotel at Harvard Square
When: Fridays, Noon to 6; Sundays, 10 to 3
WIC Coupons accepted
Cambridge - Harvard University
Where: Near Sanders Theatre, corner of Oxford & Kirkland Streets
When: Tuesdays, 12:30 to 6, June 17 - October 28
What it's like: Wee, but comprehensive and rather unique. There's meat, ample veggies, fresh mozzarella, chocolate bars and baked goods. More than enough to put together a fabulous meal in the dorms, which are a few steps away from the market site.
Cambridge - Kendall Square
Where: 510 Kendall Street
When: Thursdays, 11 to 2, June 7 - Nov 1
Cambridgeport
Where: Morse School parking lot at Magazine Street & Memorial Drive; More specifically: across from Trader Joe's.
When: Saturdays, 10 to 2, June 9 - Oct 27
Charlestown
Where: Thompson Square on Main & Austin Streets
When: Wednesdays, 2 to 7, July 16 - End of Oct
Chelsea
Where: Chelsea Square in front of the Police Station
When: Saturdays, 9 to 1 p.m., end of July - end of Oct
Dorchester - Fields Corner
Where: Park Street - Capitol Supermarket Parking Lot
When: Saturdays, 9 to noon, July 7 - Oct 27
Jamaica Plain
Where: Bank of America Parking Lot - Centre Street
When: Tuesdays, noon to 5; Saturdays, noon to 3, July - November
WIC Coupons accepted
Lexington
Where: Lexington Center, corner of Mass + Fletcher Avenues
When: Tuesdays, 2 to 6:30, June 17 - Oct. 28
Malden
Where: Heritage Apartments - 195 Pleasant Street parking Lot
When: Thursdays, 10 to 6 p.m., Mid-July to October
Mattapan
Where: Church of the Holy Spirit Parking Lot, 525 River Street
When: Saturdays, 10 to 2, July 12 to October 11
Melrose
Where: City Hall Parking Lot, Off Main Street
When: Thursdays, 10 to 3, mid June - mid October
Newton
Where: Cold Spring Park - 1200 Beacon Stree, Newton Highlands
When: Tuesdays, 1:30 to 6, July 10 - Oct 30
Newton's other market
Where: American Legion Post 440 - 295 California Street
When: Fridays, 1:30 to 6, July 6- Oct 26
Quincy
Where: John Hancock Parking Lot - across from the Municipal Court House
When: Fridays, 11:30 to 5, July 6 - Oct 26
Roslindale
Where: Adams Park, at Washington St + Cummins Hgwy
When: Saturdays, 9 to 2, June 28 to Oct 25
Revere Beach
Where: Revere Beach by the William G Reinstein Bandstand
When: Thursday, noon to 6, mid-July to October
What it's like: Holy crap! There's a farmers' market on Revere Beach! Literally. On the beach, conveniently across the street from the T stop. Someone selling fresh shellfish (lil lobster!), Farmer Dave's veggies, baked goods and a fellow named Vinny hawking authentic Italian food. Nothing local at his table, but an impressive olive bar all the same. There is no farmers' market atmosphere quite like this one. But how could there be?
Somerville - Davis Square
Where: Parking lot at corner of Day + Herbert Streets, go through the courtyard next to Starbucks to find it from the main drag
When: Wednesdays, noon to 6, May 28 - Nov 26
What it's like: Quite a well rounded offering, and a healthy mix of hipsters and urban mums keep it busy all day. You can get: Beef, if you come early, plenty of organic produce, lots of bread products, the world's best fresh mozzarella and the world's best mozzarella salesman, goat cheese and locally produced chocolate! There are no crafts to speak of and, frankly, for this we are grateful. At the end of the season, you can get oysters there, on the DL.
Somerville - Union Square
Where: Union Square Plaza, outside of the Independent and what was Toast Lounge (RIP)
When: Saturdays, 9 to 1
What it's like: Live + local music! A lovely collection of fruit, including some extraordinary peach options later in the summer. Cuts of beef and pork available, but you've got to get there early. The Audubon Society (via Drumlin Farm) brings it's big spread every week and lots of local organizations table there. A festive, earnest love of community way to start a Saturday. Get over yourself and go.
Roxbury - Mission Hill
Where: Brigham Circle at Huntington + Tremont, not far from Longwood
When: Thursdays, 11 to 6, late June - end of October
South Boston
Where: Parking Lot on West Broadway
When: Mondays, noon to 6, June 2 - Oct 27
Waltham
Where: 1 Moody Street Parking Lot
When: Saturdays, 9:30 to 2:30, June 14 - Nov 1
