City of Boston celebrating Farmers Market Week

Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced a schedule of events in celebration of National Farmers Market Week, which runs from August 4 - 10, 2019. During this week, the Mayor's Office of Food Access (OFA) will highlight and honor the agricultural business of our state, Boston's farmers markets, the efforts of market organizers, and the communities and neighborhoods who host these markets. 

"Farmers Market Week is about celebrating the dedicated farmers and market managers that work very hard to make sure our communities in Boston have fresh, healthy food," said Mayor Walsh. "This week is an important opportunity for us to recognize and appreciate the positive impact that farmers and farmers markets have in our city as contributors to our City's health and vibrancy, and I encourage everyone to visit their local farmers market." 

As a part of this celebration, OFA has provided grants to farmers markets to host events during farmers market week that promote community building, senior living, and access to nutritious food. Awards were granted to farmers markets in South Boston, Dorchester, East Boston, Roxbury, Mattapan, and Jamaica Plain, following an application process where each had to submit events relating to healthy food and their commitments to community-building. 

"We are very excited to celebrate the good work that farmers markets do in our communities," said Catalina López-Ospina, Director of the Mayor's Office of Food Access. "Our local farmers markets contribute to our individual and community health much more than people realize. The community members that manage and shop at farmers markets across the City deserve to be celebrated every day, but especially this week. OFA is glad to do all we can to support farmers markets as they play an important role in creating a more vibrant, inclusive, and affordable food culture in Boston."

Farmers Market Week builds on the Mayor's Office of Food Access overall goal to connect people to resources they need to access affordable, healthy food. In addition, all farmers markets in the City of Boston are federal SNAP vendors, providing SNAP recipients with a vibrant, inclusive environment in their community where they can obtain food.

"The market provides jobs for local youth, and makes a very visible promotion for healthy food and active living," said Vickey Siggers, Manager of the Mattapan Square Farmers' Market. "Our farm partners ensure that the produce sold at our venues is culturally relevant for the diverse communities in Mattapan. The impact of having the Mattapan Square Farmers Market bring community building, economic development and, most importantly, food security to a community that don't have access to food security."

Monday, August 5

• Event includes: Local Artist Day
• 446 W Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127
• Parking lot next to East Boston Savings Bank

Tuesday, August 6

• Event includes: Local Produce Food Package Raffle 
• 1353 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester, MA 02122
• Near Dorchester Kelly House and Pho Le Restaurant

Wednesday, August 7

• Event includes: Cooking Demonstration, Free Raffle, & "Water is Best" fruit infused water station
• Central Square Park 
• 201 Border St, East Boston, MA 02128
• Across from Liberty Plaza Shopping Center

Thursday, August 8

• Event includes: Highlighting the Healthy Incentives Programs for SNAP recipients
• 366-378 Dudley St., Roxbury, MA 02119

Friday, August 9

• Event includes: Nutritious food cooking class and demonstration 
• 487 Norfolk St., Mattapan, MA 02126
• Saturday, August 10

• Event includes: Power of Produce Club, teaching kids about fruits and vegetables
• City of Boston Municipal Lot #14, Corner of Cummings Highway and Fairway St
• Mattapan, MA 02126

• Event includes: Cooking High-Season Produce demonstration event 
• 31 Germania St., Jamaica Plain 02130
• Next to Sam Adams Brewery

OFA's second annual celebration is a part of National Farmers Market Week (NFMW). This annual celebration is made possible by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Farmers Market Coalition (FMC). NFMW allows farmers markets to take center stage on a national level and is an important opportunity to showcase the impacts of markets to customers, communities, local officials, and legislators. Farmers markets occupy an important presence in Boston's neighborhoods. In neighborhoods with many diverse cultures, the markets aim to represent all those in their area, making sure that those communities have access to food that may be prevalent to their culture while not necessarily native to Boston.