Above: Most area Farmers Markets have opened or are reopening this week, with more offerings and relaxed guidelines than 2020. (Photos L-R from Facebook and by Beth Melo)
Farmer’s Market Season is kicking off this month. Local markets are in the process of opening up.
One of the great things about summer is all the fresh produce. If you’ve only been getting your food at the supermarket, you may be missing out.
There aren’t currently and farmer’s markets in Southborough (though there is a Farm Stand).* But you don’t have to drive far to find one. There’s are markets nearby five days per week in a neighboring town, including two this weekend.
Open/Opening this week:
Saturday:
Ashland Farmers Market – Open Saturdays from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm through October 10, on 125 Front Street. Organizers are excited for tomorrow’s opening:
We are BACK IN FULL SWING FOR FUN, FAMILY FARMERS MARKET. . . Those special events — live music, great food vendors, local artisans, community organizations, ready to eat foods and picnic area — that made Ashland’s market the famous, fun, family adventure have returned!
Featuring: About 20 or more vendors per week (including produce, meat, fish, eggs, prepared foods, and artisan goods). A dozen vendors are weekly, seven bi-weekly, and another five “occasional”. (Click here for this year’s updated safety rules.)
Special themed events this season are: Strawberry Day (June 19), Peach Day (July 24), Green Energy Day (August 14), and Tomato Day (August 28).
Sunday:
Hopkinton Farmers Market – Open Sundays from 1:00 – 5:00 pm through October 10, on the Hopkinton Common (corner of Marathon Way and Ash St).
The market opened last week. Featuring: produce, meat, fish, eggs, breads, prepared foods and artisans. Each week will feature about 30-50 vendors. To submit pre-orders, click here. (You can find their Covid safety info here.)
Tuesday:
Hudson Farmers’ Market – Open Tuesdays from 2:30- 6:30 pm through September 28 at Town Hall (78 Main Street).
Featuring over a dozen vendors, plus occasional live music. (Unvaccinated attendees are asked to wear masks.)
Wednesday:
Shrewsbury Farmers Market – Open Wednesdays from 2:30 – 6:30 pm through September 30 at Shrewsbury Senior Center Parking Lot, 100 Maple Ave.
Featuring about 20+ vendors per week: fresh produce, meat, eggs, baked goods, locally made wines, handmade soaps, or artisanal crafts. (Dogs not allowed unless they are service dogs.)
Thursday:
Framingham Farmers’ Market – Open Thursdays from noon – 5:30 through Mid-October on the Village Green/Center Common (60 Edgell Road).
They haven’t updated their official info this year, but have publicly confirmed they opened this week. In past years, they featured: local corn, peaches, tomatoes, eggs, bread, honey, flowers, and more.
Later this summer:
Westborough Farmer’s Market – Starting June 24th – Thursdays from 2:00 – 6:00 pm through September 28 at the Congregational Church in downtown Westborough.
This spring they announced that the Rotary Club will take over running it. (In past years, the market featured “Dozens of varieties of fresh vegetables, cage free eggs, Massachusetts maple syrup, wine, beef, lamb, pork, fresh baked bread, brownies, and artisan goods” and live music and a children’s activity/craft each week.) For updates, click here.
Maybe? – Marlborough Farmer’s Market – No information has been posted on Facebook or the city’s website since the 2019 season. (In past years, this was open Thursdays from 3:00- 6:30 pm in mid-June through late September at Main Street-Union Common.)
*In town options:
As I noted, there aren’t any Farmer’s Markets currently offered in town. In recent years, Fay School has hosted a series but that was before Covid and during the school year.
The other option is the Farm Stand at Chestnut Hill Farm. 
As I shared earlier this week, it re-opened for in-person sales. The Farm Stand is conveniently located at the farm on Chestnut Hill Road. In addition to the fresh, organic produce grown right there, the farm sells prepared foods from local vendors, and sometimes even farm raised meat.
Current hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 – 6:30 pm and Saturdays from 9:00 am-4:00 pm. (Those hours may be extended later in the season.)
If you prefer, you can order online – but the ordering window is Monday noon to Thursday noon for pickup on Saturday morning.
