Watertown Farmers Market
The Watertown Famers Market returns on June 2, with fresh produce like these strawberries.
Watertown Farmers Market opens for its third season on Thursday, June 2 at 2 p.m. in a fresh, highly visible location. Find 20 weekly vendors on the front green of the Arsenal on the Charles, right on Arsenal Street in front of Arsenal Center for the Arts.
Favorite vendors from past seasons return, including Red’s Best local seafood straight from Boston’s piers, Lilac Hedge Farm with pastured meats, fresh eggs, and maple syrup, and The Farm School, a teaching farm in central Massachusetts where future farmers grow organic produce, eggs and flowers. Additionally, the market welcomes several new vendors, including Kitchen Garden Farm with gorgeous produce and producers of a specialty sriracha sauce made from their own farm-grown peppers.
Jasper Hill Farm also joins the market this year, bringing their award-winning cow’s milk cheese to market every-other week.
Visitors are encouraged to linger at the market and enjoy live music (local favorite Kali Stoddard-Imari performs opening day), activities from community partners, and relax on the green to enjoy Tipping Cow ice cream or another snack from the market.
“The market has something for everyone,” says market organizer Mimi Graney. “We see lots of families come to market for the afternoon, as well as shoppers from Watertown and Arsenal on the Charles employees. We’re thrilled to be in our new location with plenty of room on the green to meet with neighbors and enjoy the market.”
Watertown Farmers Market
Get bread at the Iggy’s stand at the Farmers Market at the Arsenal on the Charles
The market continues to offer a weekly SNAP-match to low income residents shopping with EBT benefits (formerly “food stamps”). Each week customers can visit the market manager tent to swipe their EBT card and receive a 1-to- 1 match up to $15, turning $15 of food assistance into $30 of fresh, healthy food at market. The market also accepts WIC and senior coupons, as well as credit cards and cash.
In additional to season vendors, find a rotating array of community partners with information and activities ranging from free kids’ yoga classes to sales of used books from Watertown Free Public Library. The market also features weekly live music and one or two guest vendors with locally made specialty foods like granola or chocolates, for something new at market each week!
“Our primary objective is to support local agriculture and bring fresh, local foods to Watertown each week,” says Graney. “Food at the market is incredibly fresh, often harvested hours before market opens. Equally important is the neighborhood activity. We love seeing families and shoppers return week after week to enjoy the market.”
The market is sponsored and hosted by AthenaHealth and managed by Relish Management.
2016 Vendors:
Produce Farms:
- Apex Orchards: Orchard in Western Massachusetts with stone fruits, apples, pears and grapes. Joins later in summer as fruit harvests begin.
- Kitchen Garden Farm: Western Massachusetts vegetable farm, also makes incredible sriracha sauce with their own peppers with a dedicated following.
- Pranaveda Farm: Northern Rhode Island vegetable farm.
- Soluna Garden Farm: fresh flowers, herbs and tea blends from Winchester, MA.
- The Farm School: Organic vegetables and eggs from a teaching farm in Athol, MA. Meet your future farmer!
Meat/Fish/Cheese:
- Jasper Hill Farm: Vermont cow’s milk cheeses. Alternating weeks.
- Lilac Hedge Farm: Wide variety of pastured meat and eggs .
- Red’s Best: Fresh, locally caught seafood.
Farm Winery:
- Carr’s Ciderhouse: Small cider press in Hadley MA offers hard ciders, apple cider vinegar, cider syrup, and more.
Bakery:
- Iggy’s Bread of the World: Delicious breads from Cambridge, MA (founded in Watertown!)
- Treats on Washington : Pies, pastry and more
Other:
- 2 Dog Treats: Locally made dog treats from Dorchester. Alternating weeks.
- Ava’s Popcorn : Delicious as a snack or gift! Handmade in Arlington, MA.
- Cauldron Fermented Foods: Sauerkrauts and more. Alternating weeks.
- Lightening Willow: Body products from this southern MA herb and goat farm.
- Powerhouse Juice: Fresh, Cold pressed juice.
- Tipping Cow: Handmade ice-cream in delicious, off beat flavors. From Somerville, MA.
- Tex Mex Eats: Famous tamales and more. Eat at market or frozen packs to prepare at home. Alternating weeks.
Watertown Farmers Market at Arsenal on the Charles Information
Dates: Thursdays from June 2-October 27 (rain or shine)
Time: 2-6 p.m.
Location: Green on Arsenal Street, directly adjacent to Arsenal Center for the Arts, La Casa de Pedro, and Panera
Payment accepted: Cash, Credit/Debit, EBT/SNAP food assistance (with $15 weekly match), WIC & Senior Farmers Market Coupons
Getting Here: Arsenal on the Charles is at 311 Arsenal Street.
Driving & Parking: Free parking is available in the structured parking garage on
Kingsbury Ave on the Arsenal campus. Elevators serve the northwest corner of the garage.
Public Transportation: MBTA buses 70 and 70A.