Here they come again: colorful farmers markets that spring up in the middle of nowhere like nomadic villages, filling parks and parking lots with local foods and goods and shoppers.
Mere hours after they appear, the carnival-like, action packed scenes dissolve into nothingness like mirages only to reappear the following week, same time, same place — rain or shine.
Although most of the markets on the South Shore won’t open until June, Holbrook’s opens this weekend, Hingham circled its white tents [above] for this year’s opening day last Saturday.
According to Hingham Market Manager Bill Marshall, an average of 1,000 people shopped Hingham’s Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. market last year and he expects “another banner year this year.”
Happily, spring’s intermittent sunshine showed up for opening day and so did several of the market’s new sellers. Among them I was thrilled to see Foxboro Cheese Co; Cape Cod Original, selling chowders and more; and Vermont Heritage Grazers with a freezer full of pasture-raised pork.
Old favorites were there, too, with bells on: Queen Bee [left] with its great honey;L. Sweets Bakerywith its Italian cookies; Nella Pastaand its gorgeous homemade ravioli; the wonderful Mediterranean foods from To Dine For, which, incidentally, sell a great little homemade bagel-like pastry with a hunk of cheese for snacking that goes so nicely with a cup of individually brewed coffee from Redeye Roasters’colorful cafe on wheels.
Turns out, there are a lot more farmers markets in the area than I knew. Here is a verified list (I talked to someone at each market) of all the markets in the area, where they are, when they open, and their weekly hours.
- Braintree Farmers Market, 1 JFK Memorial Dr. Opening day: Saturday, June 11. Hours: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Cohasset Farmers Market, Cohasset Commons, 41 Highland Ave. Opening day: Thursday, June 16. Hours: 2 to 6 p.m.
- Dedham Farmers Market, downtown parking lot between High Street and Eastern Avenue. Opening day: Wednesday, June 15. Hours: noon to 6 p.m.
- Duxbury Farmers Market, outside the Tarkiln Community Center, Route 53. Opening day: Thursday, June 30. Hours: 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.
- Hingham Farmers Market, Hingham Bathing Beach parking lot, Route 3A. Opening day, Saturday, May 7. Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Holbrook Farmers Market, Union Street Lanes parking lot at 231 Union St. Opening day: Saturday, May 14 (this weekend!). Hours: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Marshfield Farmer’s Market, Marshfield Fairgrounds, Route 3A. Opening day, Friday, June 3. Hours: 2 to 6 p.m.
- Milton Farmers Market, Wharf Street, Milton Village. Opening day, Thursday, June 16. Hours: 1 to 6 p.m.
- Norwood Farmers Market, 615 Washington St., behind the Apollo restaurant. Opening day, Tuesday, June 21. Hours: 1 to 6 p.m.
- Pembroke Farmers Market, Town Green. Opening day, Saturday, July 9. Hours: 9 a.m. to noon.
- Plymouth Farmers Market, there are two: One is held at Stephens Field, 132R Sandwich St. Opening day: Thursday, June 16. Hours: 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. The second market is held on the Courthouse Green. Opening day: Saturday, June 18. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Scituate Farmers Market, North Scituate Village at the intersection of Country Way and Henry Bailey Turner Road. Opening day: Wednesday, June 15. Hours: 3 to 7 p.m.
- Quincy Farmers Market, downtown Quincy in the John Hancock municipal parking lot, across from the courthouse. Opening day: Friday, June 24. Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Walpole Farmers Market, Town Common on Main Street. Opening day: Wednesday, June 15. Hours: 2 to 6:30 p.m.
- Weymouth Farmers Market: Town Hall parking lot, 75 Middle St. Opening day: Saturday, June 25. Hours: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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