Farmer's market season is here, and markets throughout Boston have adapted to the new normal, providing the community and visitors alike with fresh, locally sourced produce, food, and ingredients in a way that promotes the health and safety of all shoppers. If you're looking to experience a true taste of Boston, we've got your guide to some of the most popular farmer's markets currently running, along with some helpful guidelines from the public health department on how you can shop safely.
What Boston farmer's markets are open?
Most of Boston's public markets are open for business, while some have adapted to offer grab-n-go service, like the Roslindale Village Main Street Market. Not too far from our spot next to Boston Common, guests can check out the Boston Public Market, open Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Copley Square Farmer's Market, open Tuesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the South Boston Farmer's Market, open Mondays 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
If you want to venture a little further out, you can take a short drive to check out the East Boston Farmer's Market, open Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., the Central Square Farmer's Market, open Mondays from noon to 6 p.m., or the Charles River Farmer's Market, open Fridays from noon to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Are they any safety guidelines in place?
The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources along with the Department of Public Health have provided several guidelines for shoppers to keep in mind to maintain safety while they shop. Likewise, each market must adhere to strict guidelines for health, safety, and cleanliness.
- Wear a Mask – Shoppers are always advised to wear a mask, and all vendors will be required to wear masks to operate.
- Social Distance – Guests are advised to stay six feet apart, and vendors will be further spaced out to help reduce crowding. Guides will also be in place to help guests maintain spacing.
- Hand-Washing – Many farmer's markets should have hand sanitizer stations or hand-washing stations and vendors will be required to wear disposable gloves.
- No Free Samples – In most markets, there will be no free samples offered by vendors, to eliminate the risk of contamination and to reduce the spread of germs.
- No Handling Produce – In some markets, shoppers will not be allowed to touch the produce and will be asked to point to what they want so that only vendors are handling the product.
- Limits on Reusable Bags – While guests can bring reusable bags, most staff and vendors will not handle them and will instead provide their own bags.
- Avoid Bringing Cash – If you can leave your cash at home, it helps limit the spread of germs by reducing hand-to-hand transactions and is recommended.
With safety measures in place, we are seeing these essential businesses continuing to thrive as farmer's market season hits its stride. If you are looking to experience the flavors of Boston's best ingredients and local produce, be sure to hit up one of these markets on your next urban adventure.