Where to Find Farmers' Markets in Boston

With everyone in the US screaming over gas prices, and how everything is shipped from far off places, wanting to find local grown produce and vegetables is getting to be more than trendy in many cities. Boston is no exception. If you live, or work in Boston MA, then you have quite a few options. Finding local grown produce and vegetables, along with home grown flowers, eggs, jams and jellies, honey and fresh breads is easy and simple at one of Boston's 26 active Farm Markets. With that number of farm markets it is very easy to find at least one that is your favorite.

For a complete listing of where you can get local grown produce and vegetables, About.com has a Boston section with a list of places, along with times and months of operation. Most farm markets run from about mid June to the end of October or mid-November. The farm markets at Boston City Hall, Copley Square, Somerville, and Charles Square in the Cambridge area all run until Thanksgiving.

The local grown produce and vegetables at farm markets such as Boston City Hall, Copley Square, Kendall Square, Cambridgeport, Melrose, Mission Hill, and the South Boston farm market are available around 11 AM. If your need for local grown produce and vegetables requires an earlier time, there are the Saturday farm markets at Fields Corner in Dorchester, Roslindale, Chelsea Community and Somerville which all open around 9 AM. If you need an early start during the week, there are the farm markets of South Boston (Mondays) and Melrose (Thursdays), which open around 10 AM. The remainder of the farm markets open either at noon or later and run until 6:30 or 7 PM, with the Brookline (Thursdays) farm market closing at dusk.

Most days of the week are covered by at least one, if not many farm markets. Tuesday and Thursday seem to be the most popular days. There are also a few farm markets that run on two days during the week; these would be Boston City Hall (Monday/Wednesday), Copley Square (Tuesday/Friday), Charles Square in Cambridge (Friday/Sunday), Jamaica Plain (Tuesday/Saturday) and The Dudley Town Common in Roxbury (Tuesday/Thursday).

Many of the Boston farm markets have their individual attraction for people shopping for local grown produce and vegetables. Copley Square is right in the middle of Boston. While not the biggest and the best of the farm markets, this Boston market can claim the Apple Cider Doughnuts. This market is more for people coming to or going from work. The Cambridge farm market is popular and known for its quality so you need to arrive early enough for excellent selection. Some well known vendors there are Stillman Farms and Kimball's.

Many of the farm markets are also known for their fresh cut flowers, specialty products and some have local artists and crafts as part of the mixture. With the economy and fuel prices changing constantly, having some control over shopping does help. Buying local grown produce and vegetables at the Boston farm markets is one way to cut down fuel cost and get yourself some healthy fare for decent prices.