The 12th edition of the Somerville Winter Farmers Market will kick off on December 4 at the Center for Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Avenue, Somerville.

The Center for Arts at the Armory (CAA) has announced that it will host and manage the 12th Annual Somerville Winter Farmers Market (SWFM) every Saturday beginning December 4 through April 16.

This weekly market offers the best locally grown and regionally produced agricultural items, including vegetable produce, cheese, eggs, meats, fish, breads, pastries, sweets, and hard cider. Each market will feature more than 35 weekly vendors and several rotating guest vendors while welcoming an anticipated 1,000 – 1,500 visitors.

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 at the Somerville Winter Farmers Market. The market provides a free $15 match for every SNAP / EBT customer so that 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.

“With the support of our community and vendors, we were able to sustain the Somerville Winter Farmers Market and run a very different market last season during the pandemic. This season we will be getting back to what our community is more typically accustomed to with the winter market. Masks and a one-way flow will be required, but there will be no pre-order system this season and we’re looking forward to getting back to a more interactive vendor-shopper experience that even includes live music by local musicians. With food being a way to highlight different cultures, our vendors also reflect the rich diversity of our local community. 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,” says Stephanie Scherpf, CAA Executive Director. 

“The SWFM is a key part of our community, both for our vendors and for our customers. We want to continue to provide local, healthy, and affordable food in a time when food insecurity is rising,” says Emily-Reckard Mota, CAA’s Market Manager. “Please join us in fostering 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. Angry Honey will be selling honey that is both sweet and spicy, and Mycoterra will provide mushrooms once again this year. Cheeses will be available from Brookford Farm and Oake Knoll 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 as well as newcomer The Bagel Guild, while frozen tamales will again be available from market favorite, Tex Mex Eats. Many delectable desserts and confections will be offered from Crepe du Jour, Bart’s Handcrafted Ice Cream, and Sweet Lydia’s, with chocolate specialties from Tick Tock Chocolates and Sueños Chocolates. Deano’s Pasta and Valicenti Pasta Farm will offer fresh, homemade pastas, and Soluna Garden Farms will again offer a variety of herbs, spices, and tea blends.

Thus far, generous grant support for this season’s SWFM has been provided by The City of Somerville and Cambridge Savings Charitable Foundation. Middlesex Federal is a Friend of the Market Sponsor.

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 December 25, 2021 or January 1, 2022.