The Union Square Farmers Market is open Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., May 13 to November 18.

By Robert Sondak

The Union Square Farmers Market in Somerville has evolved since its founding in 2005 from a local community farmers market into a large urban farmers market. Today it is the largest farmers market in Somerville, having doubled in size to its current size, featuring roughly 40 vendors weekly.

Union Square was established in 2005 by Mimi Graney, founding Executive Director of Union Square Main Streets. Graney ran Union Square Main Streets for nine years before leaving to start Relish Management in 2014.

Union Square Main Streets, a local community development corporation, contracted with Graney to run the farmers market for two years. In 2017, the organization took over operating the market.

Esther Hanig, Executive Director of Union Square Main Streets explains how the group manages the market: “We hire the vendors,” Hanig said. “We also work with the city to get all the necessary permits.”

Hanig pointed out that the market features music every week. She said that Union Square has become a community for the whole family.

Under Union Square Main Streets management, the farmers market now offers eight different types of vendors. Seventeen regular vendors come every week from early May through the week before Thanksgiving. Among these are eight commercial farms which sell a variety of produce, fruits, herbs and a limited selection of flowers. They include Kimball Family Farm, Drumlin Farm, Flats Mentor Farm, Hutchins Farm, Nicewicz Family Farm, Freedom Food Farm, Mycoterra Farm and Soluna Garden Farm. Hutchins Farm and Freedom Food Farm are both certified organic.

In addition to its regular vendors, Union Square features two meat vendors, Brookside Farms and Stillman Quality Meats; and two seafood vendors, Boston Smoked Fish Co. and Jordan Brothers Seafood. Cheese can be purchased from Brookside Farms and Couët Farm & Fromagerie. Mariposa Bakery and Iggy’s World of Cambridge are also on hand. Carr’s Ciderhouse of Hadley alternates Saturdays at Union Square.

The market also has a group of 20 part-time specialty and guest vendors that do not come each week. This wide range of vendors gives farmers market customers the opportunity to buy locally grown foods and support the farm-economy.

Hanig said that Union Square participates in the Healthy Initiates Program or (HIP). Launched earlier this year by-the-Department of Transitional Assistance, the Department of Agricultural Resources and the Department of Public Health, HIP allows SNAP recipients to use their dollars at farmers markets.

“We match $1 for $1 up to $10,” Hanig said. “This will provide low-income families and seniors with a new market to shop.” She added that Hutchins Farm and Nicewicz Family Farm accept HIP.

Liza Bemis of Hutchins Farms said that Union Square Farmers Market has increased in both customers and size since 2009, Hutching’s first season there.

“I believe the market has more than doubled in size since it started,” Bemis said. “We have been coming to Union Square for roughly eight years.”

Hanig said that the market looks to continue to grow with the redevelopment of Union Square and Green Line Expansion and there is the potential to add more vendors.

“The Green Line project may bring more customers and make the market busier. The city is now working on a development plan with the farmers market located here. We realize that the plaza may also undergo change and that may affect the market size and location temporarily,” Hanig said.

Union Square Farmers Market is open Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., through  November 18.