While fewer in number, winter farmers markets serve as important a role as their summer counterparts, maintaining access to fresh, healthy, local food. Winter farmers markets are traditionally held indoors to protect farmers, shoppers, and products from the often harsh weather we experience here in MA in the winter months.

With cases of COVID-19 on the rise again this Fall, no one relishes the idea of markets moving indoors for the winter season this year. What we’ve heard from market shoppers: “I am so glad you’re open. I prefer shopping outside. It feels safer, healthier.”

We expect fewer markets will open during the winter months. Across Massachusetts, fewer SNAP recipients will have access to their Healthy Incentive Program (HIP) benefits. The extra $40, $60, or $80 food dollars are desperately needed in order to make sure they and their families can put healthy food on the kitchen table.

At Mass Farmers Markets, we recognize what a difficult winter 2020/2021 has the potential to be. We’ve been working on a Winter Farmers Market Initiative so you can continue to shop safely and stay healthy this winter, while helping local farmers keep their business open. You can help make this possible!

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“The vision behind the Winter Farmers Market Initiative is to ensure that Massachusetts residents can access all the benefits of farmers markets during this and future winters while managing exposure to this and future pandemics by creating habitable outdoor market environments.”  

Edith Murnane, Executive Director - Mass Farmers Markets


Help us build outdoor winter farmers markets in cities and towns across Massachusetts!

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Winter Farmers Market Initiative:

The vision behind the Winter Farmers Market Initiative is to ensure that Massachusetts residents can access all the benefits of farmers markets during this and future winters while managing exposure to this and future pandemics by creating habitable outdoor market environments.

While we have applied to the Massachusetts Food Security Infrastructure Program for funding to build the outdoor kiosks, there’s work to be done before we can start building. We'll need construction documents, we'll need to build prototypes and we'll need money to put a deposit on the wood we'll need from a local mill.

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Access to farm-fresh products during the winter and early spring months is especially important because it is at farmers markets that residents can access their Healthy Incentive Program benefits which provide $40/ $60/ $80 extra food dollars to SNAP households. With one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation, Massachusetts residents need access to these extra food dollars, now more than ever. And this winter season— as consumers are looking to shop in as safe and healthy manner as possible, being outdoors, in the open air—will be extremely important.

The MFM Winter Farmers Market Initiative will take place in cities and towns across Massachusetts.

Support Mass Farmers Markets, as well as the farmers and market managers across the Commonwealth in our efforts to build safe and healthy outdoor winter farmers markets for consumers across Massachusetts.

since 1978,

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Mass Farmers Markets has been equated with the local economy, good food, sustainability, conservation, social justice, and a diverse and inclusive community. Thousands of city and regional residents recognize our brand and appreciate its alignment with their values. We reach thousands of local residents through our three farmers markets, website, emails, social media, as well as our support of over 240 statewide farmers markets. In a time where most businesses and services have slowed down, the vendors at our markets this summer have reported record numbers.

in 2019,

We supported more than 450 farmers across the state, distributing more than $950,000 in farmers market nutrition coupons at more than 250 farmers markets and farm stands.

Our project will develop and foster Winter Markets that offer healthy, outdoor winterized spaces so local farmers and food producers can sell New England-grown food and farm products, ensuring access to local food, improving food security through winter access to Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) benefits, and strengthening the regional food system. 

 
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HIP and Farmers Markets

Access to farm-fresh products during the winter and early spring months is especially important because it is primarily at farmers markets that residents can access their Healthy Incentive Program (HIP) benefits which provide $40/ $60/ $80 of extra food dollars to SNAP households. With one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation, Massachusetts residents need access to these extra food dollars, now more than ever. And this winter season— as consumers are looking to shop in as safe and healthy manner as possible, being outdoors, in the open air—will be extremely important. 

 
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Connecting Farmers to Customers 

It’s no secret restaurants are hurting during these unprecedented times. About 20% of Massachusetts restaurants have closed and with outdoor seating becoming scarcer the colder it gets, more are likely to shutter. This has created a huge impact on our local farmers and growers. With demand shrinking, farmers need more opportunities to vend healthy food options. Pair this with growing concerns about Coronavirus where folks are adopting new strategies for getting healthy food on their tables at home, there is a great opportunity to connect Massachusetts residents with farm fresh foods.

 
 
 
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Extending HIP benefits through market access

Many families in Massachusetts rely on the Healthy Incentives Program to maximize their SNAP benefits. Farmers markets are vital for helping folks across the state use these services with over 50 markets accepting HIP. Our goal for the Winter Farmers Market Initiative is to adapt as many of these markets as we can so they are able to run through the winter by offering the infrastructure needs they otherwise lack.

 
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When farmers markets are open, everyone wins

"My customers are telling me that they really appreciate the outdoor space that we’ve created. They feel safer shopping here and they appreciate that their dollars support local businesses.” Quotes like this from our farmers are commonplace. Farmers markets are a wonderful benefit for the communities they are a family of. The Winter Farmers Market Initiative aims to continue the important work of assisting these markets stay open through the cold months ahead.

 

You can help.

 

Chip in what you can or become a sponsor and help us reach the goal of creating year-round farmers markets, strengthening communities, and sustaining Massachusetts Farmers and residents for years to come. This project will develop and foster Winter Markets that offer healthy, outdoor winterized spaces so local farmers and food producers can sell New England grown food and farm products, ensuring access to local food, improving food security through winter access to HIP benefits, and strengthening the regional food system.