The 2021 edition of the Somerville Winter Farmers Market kicked off last Saturday at the Arts at the Armory. — Photos by Fernando Cervantes Jr.

By Fernando Cervantes Jr.

On Saturday, the Somerville Winter Farmers Market opened for the first time in the 2021 season. Located at the Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Avenue, the farmers market is looking to have a successful season following the struggles of the 2020 season.

The market runs every Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This is the 12th season it has been in operation. In that time, the winter market has become a staple of the surrounding Somerville community.

But in 2020, the COVID pandemic brought new challenges and circumstances that forced the market and its vendors to adapt.

According to the manager of the winter market, Emily Reckard-Mota, the market adapted to the pandemic in several different ways. “We kept it open, but it looked very different, though,” Reckard-Mota said. “Last year we did a pre-order system, so we had somewhere around 45 vendors who had an online to-go website pre-order.”

The manager’s experience was also shared by vendors in the market. Rebecca Stillman, who works for Stillman Meats, talked about last year and how they fared. “Because they allowed a few vendors in the parking lot, we chose to be out in the parking lot, because we have a product that’s very difficult to pre-order,” Stillman said.

Moreover, Reckard-Mota also expressed excitement to hold her first full market as manager.

“This is my first time seeing what it’s like in its full glory, so it feels really nice to have it feel like a more normal year,” she said.

Looking towards the future, Reckard-Mota hopes the market will support local businesses involved in the operation. “A whole other aspect of the mission of this market is to support local food producers and small food businesses,” she said.

Stillman spoke about how people are still becoming accustomed to a different market compared to the one in 2020. “I think there’s a learning curve, people have to learn we’re back in here, they have to be secure that they can come here and they’re going to be safe,” Stillman said.