This announcement was contributed by Dedham Square Circle.
The fourth season of the Dedham Farmers Market will kick off on Wednesday, June 15 at noon with the ringing of the ceremonial cow bell. The weekly market will run on Wednesdays from 12-6 p.m. through October 26 and will be held in the town’s permit parking lot on Eastern Avenue in Dedham Square, directly across from Bryant Street.
The market draws hundreds of people from Dedham and surrounding communities each week and has become a community gathering place where friends and neighbors meet. The market was founded and is managed by the Dedham Square Circle, a non-profit community organization dedicated to revitalizing Dedham Square and strengthening its economy, and is sponsored by the Town of Dedham, Dedham Medical Associates and Whole Foods Market Dedham.
Returning to the market this season MacArthur Farm of Holliston, Spring Brook Farm of Littleton, Freitas Farm of Middleboro and The Neighborhood Farm of Needham, all of which will offer a variety of fresh locally grown produce. Ferrara Greenhouse of Hyde Park will sell potted herbs, vegetable plants and annuals and Lemon Thyme Farm of Hanson will offer local honey, maple syrup, jams, preserves, mustard, muffin and cake mixes. Clear Flour Bread will sell fresh baked varieties of focaccia along with sourdough and baguettes, Fior D'Italia will have fresh pasta, sauces, and mozzarella and Foxboro Cheese Co. will sell their Fromage Blanc and other cheese varieties. Also returning are Jordan Brothers Seafood which will offer a variety of ocean fresh seafood and Jack & Eric's Pirate Lemonade, featuring brothers Jack (age 10) and Eric (age 7), who will donate their proceeds The Pink Rose Foundation.
New additions to this season are John Crow Farm of Groton which will have grass-fed poultry, beef and lamb; Dave’s Cape Cod Smokehouse which will sell smoked fish and meats, Swisbakers which will offer fresh baked European breads, cookies, pastries, tarts, quiche and more; Burnin' Love Sauces which will sell grilling and dipping sauces including their popular Sweet & Spicy Red Pepper Heartbreak Sauce; Fastachi which will sell hand roasted nut and fruit mixes such as “Fiesta Nut Mix”; Still River Winery which will sell their apple ice wine; Notting Hall Tea which will sell specialty loose leaf teas and On the Edge Knife Sharpening which will offer their specialty hand sharpening knife service.
Throughout the season visitors of all ages will enjoy a variety of educational and cultural activities at the market including visits from local environmental organizations, live music, local authors and a kids’ craft and activity table. On opening day, New England Wildflower Society will be at the market to share info. on native plants and the role they play in maintaining a vibrant, healthy ecosystem . They’ll bring sample plants, info. and materials that will help you identify invasive species in your back-yard and how to replace them with native cultivars. Nikki McClure, artist and illustrator of “To Market, To Market”, a book about a mother and son’s visit to a weekly farmers market, will also be on hand with copies of her book for sale. On June 22, Soil & Seed will be at the market to share on how to install raised bed vegetable gardens at home.
Again this year, the Dedham Farmers Market will accept SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as Food Stamps) thanks to a grant from the Massachusetts Dept. of Agricultural Resources and the Massachusetts Dept. of Transitional Assistance. The Farmers Market will match every SNAP dollar for free up to a cap of $10 per person per week (some program restrictions apply).
“It offers one-stop shopping for people looking for a variety of farm fresh and local products,” said market co-founder, Louise Reohr. “Purchasing locally grown and produced products at the market helps to support our local economy as all of our farms, and nearly every vendor, are from Massachusetts.”
“Each week the market brings hundreds of people to Dedham Square, many of them first time visitors. It’s a great opportunity to showcase all that the Square has to offer and to encourage people to browse around and check out the variety of unique businesses, restaurants and services in our downtown,” added market co-founder, Adina Astor.
For more information, please visit www.dedhamfarmersmarket.org.
