Leominster Farmers Markert

LEOMINSTER – The outdoor farmers market opened for the season on Saturday and will run through October, offering visitors the opportunity to purchase farm fresh produce, candles, baking mixes, crafts, plants and more from vendors.

The outdoor market, which is run by the city in collaboration with Growing Places, is held on the first Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., downtown in Monument Square, rain or shine. A winter farmers market is held indoors at City Hall during the colder months.

City Small Business Development Coordinator Melissa Tasca was tapped to help with the market.

“It made sense since I work with small businesses for me to get involved with Growing Places. We have a working relationship,” she said. “Last year it was different because of the pandemic, but I have been working with them all of this calendar year to really beef up the markets and make it more fun.”

Growing Places, a nonprofit organization that supports the health of people and the planet through the local food system, has been managing the Fitchburg and Leominster farmers markets since 2015 and 2018, respectively. They also manage a mobile farmers market that visits 23 locations throughout North Central Massachusetts, and Tasca said they are an integral part of the market’s success, providing fresh produce and “other value-added items.”

“Growing Places has so many ways to pay for things and get the most out of your dollar with the way they have the market set up,” she said. “The market is important because it provides food to people who otherwise may not have access to it, and it is a way to bring the makers and farmers together for the community.”

Growing Places accepts SNAP at their booth, enabling those enrolled in the program to use their card to purchase fresh produce and certain goods at the Fitchburg and Leominster farmers markets through the Health Incentive Program (HIP). Everyone in the state who has SNAP has HIP benefits.

“It is the freshest, highest-quality healthy food that they can access using their SNAP and HIP benefits,” said Growing Places Director of Programs and Operations Janet Edwards. “Fresh, local produce and health are inextricably linked.”

Growing Places Executive Director Ayn Yeagle said the market is open to everyone.

“We have lots of vendors in addition to Growing Places that offer locally made products, food and non-food, at the outdoor markets,” she said. “We welcome all to attend and spend time outdoors to enjoy their community.”

Tasca echoed those sentiments.

“Beyond the nutrition aspect, the market is fun,” she said. “It brings the community together and allows home based businesses to come out and build their customer base.”

In addition to Growing Places, current vendors include Grandma’s Pantry Inc. out of Townsend and Sunnyhill Candle Co. from Lunenburg. On opening day Growing Places had fresh rhubarb, carrots, beets, heirloom tomatoes, apples, and more from farms across the state and offered market visitors complimentary gluten free food kits, such as Spanish rice and pasta with Italian tomato basil sauce. The Sizer School’s environmental club, Reclaiming Sunshine, sold tomato plants as a fundraiser and Yeagle helped children plant edible flower and vegetable seeds in a container filled with soil to take home courtesy of Growing Places.

Tasca said they are currently accepting applications for market vendors and will continue to do so throughout the season, and that market fans should stay tuned for vendor and entertainment updates including live music, food trucks, and children’s activities, “so there is something for everyone.”

“We have more vendors coming and are working with Growing Places to get more,” she said. “We have applications and can certainly help you get set up.”

The last outdoor farmers market of the season is slated for Oct. 2 and then the market will move back indoors. Tasca said they shifted the market to a later time slot this year, which seems to be working out well for both vendors and visitors.

“It is a lot easier to swing by something when it is in the middle of the day,” she said.

Tasca said Saturday “was a great day.”

“People were out enjoying themselves, and they had an opportunity to talk to vendors and learn more about the products they have,” she said. “People care about that now, where their food and other products come from.”

Tasca said the vendors were pleased, too.

“We want them to be happy and to come back, and tell their friends they had a great time at the market and spread the word,” she said. “We want this to be a successful market this outdoor season, especially as people are longing to get back to their normal routine that we have stepped away from for the last year and half.”

For more information visit https://growingplaces.org/ and follow Growing Places and Leominster Farmers Market on Facebook and Instagram.