The Somerville Winter Farmers Market opens the season on November 5 at the Center for Arts at the Armory.

The Center for Arts at the Armory (CAA) announces that it will host and manage the 13th Annual Somerville Winter Farmers Market (SWFM) every Saturday beginning November 5 through April 8, 2023.

This weekly market offers the best locally grown and regionally produced agricultural items, including vegetable produce, cheese, eggs, meats, fish, breads, pastries, and sweets. Each market will feature more than 35 weekly vendors and several rotating guest vendors while welcoming an anticipated 1,000 visitors.

Starting in 2022, Arts at the Armory will add three November markets to their Somerville Winter Farmers Market season. This addition was made after a difficult decision was reached to condense the Union Square Farmers Market season by three markets to 25 weeks as Union Square Main Streets (the producing organization of USFM) works best to support the many elements of their expansive economic empowerment services to 192+ businesses throughout Union Square.

Understanding this could provide a challenge, especially to SNAP customers who depend on the weekly $15 SNAP match both markets provide, USMS engaged their partners at the Center for Arts at the Armory and together the two problem-solved to prevent a gap in support.

Together with Union Square Farmers Market and their fellow Somerville Farmers Market Coalition members – City of Somerville’s Mobile Market and Mass Farmers Markets’ Davis Square Market – a weekly farmers market will be available to the community for 45 out of 52 weeks in the calendar year.

The mission of the Somerville Winter Farmers Market is to bring healthy, local food and products to all customers regardless of economic status. In addition to cash, credit and debit, SNAP/EBT is also accepted and the market provides a free $15 match so that SNAP / EBT customers receive $30 worth of food for only $15. The market is also participating in the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), which allows qualifying customers to receive between $40-$80 worth of free farm-fresh fruits and vegetables from participating HIP vendors.

“We are proud to offer a weekly market that serves our community during the long, winter months and also provides economic opportunities for local farms and businesses. With food being a way to highlight different cultures, our vendors also reflect the rich diversity of our local community. The market is the place to be on winter Saturday mornings,” says Stephanie Scherpf, CAA Co-Director / CEO.

“The SWFM fosters a community for our vendors and customers during the cold and potentially isolating months out of the year. We want to continue to provide local, healthy, and affordable food in a time when food insecurity has been on the rise,” says Juliana Soltys, CAA’s Market Manager. “Please join us in cultivating a sustainable food system by supporting local businesses and farmers during this challenging time.”

The market will welcome back much-loved vendors, including Red Fire Farm, Heron Pond Farm, Winter Moon Roots, and Freedom Food Farm, each with a wide array of produce and winter greenhouse greens. Kimball Fruit Farm will be selling apples and other root vegetables, and Mycoterra will provide mushrooms once again this year. Cheeses will be available from Bell & Goose Cheese and Round Table Farm, while savory meats will be available from specialty vendors like Stillman Quality Meats and Lilac Hedge. Fresh artisanal pastries will return from Mariposa Bakery, while frozen tamales will again be available from a market favorite, Tex Mex Eats. Delectable desserts and confections will be offered by Blanche’s Ice Cream, Onebitesweet, and Piping Plover Baking Co., with chocolate specialties from Tick Tock Chocolates and Sueños Chocolates. Deano’s Pasta and Valicenti Pasta Farm will offer fresh, homemade pastas, and Fork on a Road and Mother’s Kitchen will offer Indian meal kits and prepared products.

Thus far, generous grant sponsorship support for this season’s SWFM has been provided by The City of Somerville, Sira Naturals, Cambridge Savings Charitable Foundation, Holistic Industries and Middlesex Federal.

The Center for Arts at the Armory is located at 191 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143. To learn more and for a complete listing of vendors, weekly specials, and live entertainment, please visit www.somwintermarket.org. You can find the market on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SomervilleWinterFarmersMarket, and on Instagram @SomWinterMarket.

Please note that the Somerville Winter Farmers Market will not be held on November 26, or December 24 or 31.