Summer Bounty, Coming Up!

Sure, this gorgeous spring has been wonderful for walking and biking, enjoying the flowers, and getting a head start on our tans. But let’s face it: the best thing about the recent weather is the bounty we’ll soon find at the various North Shore farmers markets. To that end, we’ve got a list of the markets, their opening dates, their locations, and their hours, plus links to our FM posts from last year. Enjoy!

Revere Beach, Thursdays 12:00-6:00
Revere Beach by the William G. Reinstein Bandstand
Opening day: July 23

Lynn, Thursdays 11:00-3:00
Union St and Exchange St
Opening day: July 2

Marblehead, Saturdays 9:00-12:00
28 Vine St, behind Veteran’s Middle School
Opening day: June 12
Summer At Last: Marblehead Farmer’s Market

Salem, Thursdays 4:00-7:00
32 Derby Square
Opening day: June 17
Greens Galore at Salem Farmer’s Market

Beverly, Mondays 3:30-6:45
Veteran’s Park, Rantoul St and Railroad Ave
Opening day: June 28

Peabody, Tuesdays 1:00-6:00
Central St and Railroad Ave
Opening day: July 1

Gloucester / Cape Ann, Thursdays 3:00-6:30
Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center
Opening day: June 24

Rowley, Sundays 8:00-1:00
Rowley Town Common, Rte 1A
Opening day: July 11

Saugus / Cliftondale, Tuesdays 10:00 – 3:00
Cliftondale Square off Rte. 1 at Jackson Street
Opening day: July 6

Ipswich, Saturdays 9:00-1:00
Ebsco Parking Lot on Estie’s Street
Opening day: July 10

Topsfield, Saturdays 7:00-12:00
207 Boston St, Topsfield Fairgrounds
Opening day: July 10

Newburyport, Sundays 9:00-1:00
The Tannery Marketplace, 50 Water Street
Opening day: May 2
Eating Our Way Through the Newburyport Farmers Market

Eating Our Way Through the Newburyport Farmers Market

We had a great time last Sunday at the Newburyport farmer’s market—with 27 vendors and a jazz band, the place was hopping. Along with the bountiful vegetables, there were baked goods to sample, all-natural sausages cooking, and crafts galore.

Our pick for best farm stand was Middle Earth, which had a beautiful display of onions, turnips, tomatillos, and watermelon. Watermelon was also present at the Heron Pond Farm stand, which had great looking eggplant and a trailer full of corn picked that morning ($.60 an ear).
 
Other produce of note included gorgeous heirloom tomatoes from Arrowhead Farm and regular and golden raspberries ($4 for a ½ pint) from Applecrest Farm Orchard, which also had delicious cider donuts ($.75).

The aforementioned baked goods were from Blue Egg Baking Co., which had cookies and scones for sale, along with whole grain cake and brownie mixes that are formulated to be made with vegetables like beets or zucchini. We tried a small square of each, and they definitely do not taste like they’re good for you.

The sausages were from Kellie Brook Farm in New Hampshire, where they raise all-natural veal, port, chicken, turkey, and beef. There were chicken pot pies for sale ($15), quarts of chicken chili ($12), and ½ pints of chicken liver pate ($5).

For those still looking to munch, there were samples from Me and Goji, a design-your-own-cereal-or-granola company as well as smoothies, wraps, and chai from White Heron Tea.

If you live in the area or feel like taking a Sunday drive, we highly recommend stopping into the market, which is held at the Tannery Marketplace (about four blocks from the main square).

If you’re there on September 20, you’re in for a treat: Toyota’s Farm to Table tour is sponsoring a special event featuring nine local chefs paired with farms to showcase local offerings. There will be a chance to win a culinary prize and free rides in a Prius or Highland Hybrid.

The market runs through October 25th, and founding director Shari Wilkinson says she’s looking at ways to continue it into the winter months.

We’d like to give a big shout-out to Kim Gobbi of Newburyport Today, who met us at the market, talked with us about the local food scene, and introduced us to some terrific people and places. Definitely check out her site if you’re headed up that way, and if you’re not, take a look at the What’s For Dinner? section of Newburyport Today, featuring delicious recipes using local products.

Newburyport Farmer’s Market
Tannery Marketplace, Newburyport
thenewburyportfarmersmarket.org