Really nice farmer's market, with a decent selection, and Marblehead prices, so bring your wallet…read more Great Harvest Bread is gone, but A&J King of Salem has replaced it, and they're just plain better. Cheese from West River is great, as is the produce and baked goods from Cider Hill Farm. I can't wait for June. Come early, and be prepared to park far away. It's crowded.

Marblehead Farmer's Market isn't the largest around, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in…read morequality. For one thing, it's one of the few farmer's markets open on Saturdays, which is great for my schedule. On the other hand it means that it's real busy. We've never not been able to get a parking spot at the Marblehead Veteran's Middle School where it's held, but we've had to do the "wait and stalk the lady with the bags" thing. Oh and get there early, but I guess that applies to all farmer's markets; the best stuff goes quick. Most of the vendors are regulars but there are always new people coming and going. Our favorites include the two stalls selling cheese, one from Vermont selling cow and sheep cheese and the other from Mass. selling goat cheese. I forget the name of the goat cheese farm right now, but the lady who makes and sells it is so nice and remembers us from year to year. Great Harvest Bakery (which is located in Beverly) also comes every week with some great bread. There's at least four fruit and vegetable stands, an organic beef stand, an organic pork stand (mmm, great bacon and chops); a Vietnamese farm stand,and more. They also have people selling crafts and usually some kind of entertainment for the kids. It's a real lively family-friendly hootenany. It's not just food shopping; it's a fun excursion. Oh and let's not forget that the fresh fruit and vegetables are fantastic! The market is open Saturdays, June to October, 9 am to noon.

There need to be six stars here…read more Farm Direct Co-op believes in providing people on the north shore with healthy and local food. Truly farm to my table. Folks, they have a coffee share, a pasta share, a meat share, a mushroom share - goes on and on. The fruit is amazing! Service is exceptional. If you need it they get it for you. The nicest humans you may ever meet. Ambiance is smart and ethical business people meet hippies. The best food and the best people. I cannot recommend the team enough - A++ Caveat -- its not inexpensive. Good food that pays local producers fair prices is not inexpensive.

After a several month stint on the FDC waiting list, I became a member this spring and the whole…read moreexperience has been awesome. In case you are not familiar with the co-op thing, members pay a certain amount of money to join the co-op, and in turn, get a bounty of fresh, locally-grown, mostly organic food items each week. It cost me about $600 for the season, and that includes weekly baskets of fruit, vegetables, cheese, and herbs from mid-June to mid-October. It also includes one fall basket and one winter basket. The quality of the food I've received thus far has been amazing. Everything is super fresh and super delicious. We've had everything from bok choy and salad turnips to bell peppers and blueberries, and it's all been outstanding. Plus the cheese! Oh, the cheese. It's all been SO good. There's been goat cheese, gouda, raw cheddar, monterey jack - the list goes on. We've also gotten a couple different types of vinegar from the Herb Farmacy too. Every week brings with it a new surprise. The best thing about being a part of this CSA (other than supporting local farms, the benefits for the environment, the quality, etc) is that the different types of items have forced me to go beyond my comfort zone and try new ingredients. I never would have bought Swiss Chard, for example, at the grocery store, but I've discovered how good it is since getting it through my share. So it's opening up all sorts of new culinary worlds for me. I know there's a pretty serious wait list for next season (at last count, I think they said there were 140 names on it), but if you are looking for a CSA in or around the North Shore (they have pick up locations in Melrose, Salem, and Marblehead every Thursday), check it out!

I think this is the best Farmers Market around. It is Saturdays until 1 in summer and fall…read more I can come away with ingredients for meals, something to eat right away or shortcut prepped meals. They even have protein balls in many flavors for a quick healthy snack. In addition there are lovely breads, jellies and pastries, coffees and juices. I've got gifts both for others and myself there. There is always a community group and some music to add to the atmosphere. Parking can be tough during the first hour or so. There's is plenty of you don't mind a little walk I recommend arriving early, taking a walk around Lake Quannapowitt (3 mi), then grabbing some items at the market.

Amazing place! Great vendors. Good variety. Lots of small business to support. Highly recommendread more

Amazing local market with many different vendors, fresh & local food, as well as local products &…read morebooks! They have fresh vegetables, although on the higher price range, higher than I'd expect from a Farmer's market, but I do support our local market and community. I scored some delicious oyster mushrooms from Cloutman Farms (IG @cloutmanfarms) & aged black garlic from The Garlic Guy (IG @lindon_garlic_farms), and I am in love! I love being able to support our local community while accessing the highest quality ingredients!

Yes it's great and the veggies and meat I bought were very fresh and delicious. I purchased my food…read morefrom Morning Star Farm. Wonderful family.

Imaginative decor. The food is great and reasonably priced. Chef Andrew Varela is hard at work in…read morethe kitchen turning out amazing dishes made from locally sourced food. The not - wedge salad is beautifully presented with hot house tomatoes, thick cut bacon and blue cheese that is otherworldly. Mushroom soup has layers of flavor. They now have a seasonal liquor license but in the meantime try their Jun Kombucha. Yum. Got there.

Love everything about Maitland Mountain Farm! They have a huge amount of amazing plants for sale…read moreplus varieties you normally can't find anywhere else. It's a hidden gem on the North Shore. Nasturtium? Dinosaur kale? Yes please!! I was amazed by their high quality succulents too. Maitland Mountain Farm is well known for their *amazing* pickles, but they have so much more. So excited to grow their seedlings in my garden this season!

We wait anxiously every year for Marshall's Farm Stand to open for the season. I really appreciate…read moretheir honesty: they tell you whether the produce is their, local, or shipped in. Best of all is their sweet corn. They get it from local Essex County Farms (whenever possible) and they tell you what farm grew it. Always fresh picked, it is SOooo good. Face it, even 24 hours after picking, the sugar in corn has started to convert to starch. They are also one of the few places in the area where you can get Richardson's Ice Cream in a pint or 1/2 gallon tub. The 1/2 gallon is barely more expensive than a 2-scoop cone at the ice cream stands!

Marshall's Farm Stand is located far away from the hustle and bustle of Gloucester and Essex so…read moreit's somewhat hard to find. Depending upon which end of Concord Street you enter, you may not find it. If you go in closer to the beach and fire station, then it's right up the street. If you try from the far end near Essex you'll be in for some turns and bumpy roads. Selection is pretty good. The tomatoes are awesome. They sell a wide assortment of plants and other gardening supplies. They have a nice freezer section with home-made quiche. Fine selection of breads and pastry items, including delicious monkey bread. The place even has a cute cat roaming around outside. The one drawback is that it's not open year round, and last time I was there (last year) it was still cash only. I absolutely hate cash only. No one I know carries enough cash to buy a big order at a grocery store. I'm forgiving of places that have an ATM on sight (like the Clam Box) but when your farm stand is in the middle of nowhere and you're cash only and you have so many awesome items then that's just cruel and bad business. I definitely recommend checking out Marshall's Farm Stand. The selection is very nice for a small farm stand. Just be sure to have some cash handy and don't lose faith if it feels like you've been driving forever- Concord street is a very long street!

Attention: This farmer's market has moved. It is no longer…read moreheld here on Elm street. ~~~~ It is now held every Tuesday from 2:00-7:00 PM at the Town Common in the center of town (across from the Police Station). ~~~~ It's bigger and better than before. They've managed to line up some real nice tables this year. A few local farms are selling produce here and let me tell you - it's about 1,000 times better than that crap you'll find at Stop & Shop! Puts them to SHAME! One farm uses NO pesticides and their tomatos are the best I've ever had - and I don't even like tomatos!!!! What does that tell ya!? ~~~~ Mamadou's is also represented here - the bread for sale here at this market is baked fresh THAT DAY (I asked) and I can confirm this because the loaf of white bread I had was incredible! Absolutely get some!!! ~~~~ This whole thing is held by the Senior Center Friends organization to raise funds for educational programs and activities for Stoneham seniors. See You Next Tuesday!!!

last year this farmer's market had more too offer. so far the produce seems a bit limp and many…read morevendors stopped showing up. now that the produce is really coming in is when they really should be there. this doesn't compare for the last few weeks to the one in Wakefield on sat.

Dont expect that picked-daily quality you'll get at a farm-stand, but if you're looking for a…read morebargain, Farmer John's will generally beat stupidmarket prices. This place is great if you dont know what you want to cook, but are willing to take a chance on their reduced bags of ... whatever's leftover and about to spoil. One of my best pasta sauces was made from a $1 bag including zuchini, mushrooms, carrots, and onion. I am currently enjoying salad consisting of $0.33 per head romaine lettuce. It's not haymarket but it'll do.