The Winter Farmers will be in operation every Saturday at the Arts at the Armory through April 11.

By Robert Sondak

The Somerville Winter Farmers Market has evolved over a decade from a local winter farmers market into a large urban indoor market featuring more than 50 venders and drawing roughly 800 to 1,000 customers each week. Today, it is the second largest farmers market in Somerville, followed only by the Union Square summer farmer’s market.

Non-profit Arts at the Armory, which currently houses and manages the market, helped established the market in 2009 in cooperation with Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and local non-profits such as Relish Management. It is one of the largest winter farmer markets in Massachusetts.

“The Somerville Winter Farmers Market has a very long season. It is open for 19 weeks from December 7 through April 11. Our long season makes us unique among Massachusetts winter farmers markets,” said Stephanie Scherpf, Executive Director of Arts at the Armory.

The market occupies a cozy, sunny space at the Armory, “In a wide rectangular room with large windows. There is a mezzanine on the second level. This space gets a large amount of sunlight which attracts vendors and customers,” Jess Bloomer, the Winter Farmers Market manager said, adding that musicians often perform during the market.

Under the Arts at the Armory direction, 38 regular vendors participate in the winter market. Among these are seven commercial farms offering a variety of produce, fruits and flowers. Red Fire Farm and Freedom Food Farm are certificated organic.

Two non-organic farms, Heron Pond and Apex Orchards utilize Integral Pest Management, which uses agricultural techniques like crop rotation to increase farm yields, to control pest and to minimize pesticides usage. Heron Pond Farm grows and sells a diverse crop range featuring greens, apples and watermelon in season. Brookford Farm grows spring, winter and summer vegetables which are all certified organic. Two specialty famers are also on hand, Mycoterra grows mushrooms, while Winter Moon Roots grows root vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, turnips, beets and radishes.

“We sell organic root vegetables like carrots, onion, russet and sweet potatoes and greenhouse greens like spinach and lettuce,” said Ryan Voiland of Red Fire Farms. “Our business plan focuses on working at winter farmer’s markets such as Somerville’s and our sales are strong.”

Apex Orchards sells a wide variety of fruits from apples, to blueberries and table grapes. “Apex Orchards’ major fruit is apples. November is when we harvest apples. Apples are kept in cold storage throughout the winter season,” said Courtney Basil, Apex Orchards farm store Operations Manager.

In addition to the regular produce vendors, meat and seafood vendors also participate in the market. These include meat vendors Freedom Food Farm, Brookford Farm and Stillman Quality Meats, and four seafood vendors, Boston Smoked Fish, Jordan Brothers Seafood, Lilac Hedge Farm and Hooked LLC Fish Shop.

Baked goods are sold by Mariposa Bakery, Piping Plover Baking Co. (gluten free) and Sustainable Food Solutions. Cheese can be purchased from Foxboro Cheese Co, Bell & Goose, and Narragansetti Creamery LLC. Farm Wineries include Carr’s Ciderhouse, Far From the Tree Cider and 1634 Meadery.

The market also offers 11 specialty stalls and two ready to eat. In addition, 23 guest vendors sell their products on different weeks.

This winter market allows customers to buy locally grown foods and support the regional New England farm economy. All eight farm vendors accepted EBT and participate in the Healthy Initiatives Program.

The Somerville Winter Farmers Market is located in the Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Avenue. 15 minutes by car from Davis Square. The market is open Saturday’s from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For more information visit https://www.somwintermarket.org/