The winter iteration of the highly excellent Union Square Farmer's Market is, unsurprisingly, also worthy of recognition. Clearly, fresh vegetable options are more limited in the winter, in Massachusetts--if root veggies and spinach aren't your thing, you're just gonna have to suck it up and deal with already-past-its-prime produce shipped in from California. But the SWFM makes eating local kinda fun. Who said root veggies are limited to Russets and carrots? Here you can find a motley crew of multi-colored taters (blue, red, golden, and yes, russet), purple (and orange) carrots, Watermelon and daikon radishes, turnips, parsnips, kohlrabi, and beyond. I was even able to nab a late-season Acorn squash at my visit today. Other fresh options to note: Apples (a good selection from Apex Orchards) and cabbage. Aside from produce, the SWFM plays host to a slew of local vendors of sweets, drinks, and more: Barismo coffee, Union Square Donuts, Foxboro Cheese Co, Dan's Brick Oven Bread, etc. There are also quite a few local meat vendors so you don't have to go without your locally-grazed protein during the colder months. Bring cash! Tokens are available if you bring a card, but that's just another step between you and your food--or at least that's how I see it. Prices are comparable to other farmer's markets you've been to. So, yeah, not cheaper than Market Basket, but the quality is beyond comparison. (Probably cheaper than Star Market, though...?) Overall-- a very good winter market. And another reason that I feel lucky to live in the 'ville! read more

Somerville Winter Farmer's Market - Farmers Market Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Enjoyed my visit to the Farmers market, it's nice to have access to local produce all in one place and mingle with the locals. It's important to remember you're supporting the local economy here, not too many food miles, the products are premium, (mostly) organic and not available in regular supermarkets. We spent nearly $70 (see last photo of our little haul) Part of me thought, hey I'm heamorrhaging money here, so be cautious if you have a tight budget. It was fun to try samples, and I tried a few new things like the spicy pickled green beans, delicious meads & ciders. We had a coffee and brownie in the café, serenaded by a great piano player & singer duo. We came on foot from Beacon St, it's a nice walk up and over the hill. read more

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I'm grateful to Somerville Winter Farmer's Market for allowing me to buy local goods when it's cold outside. All the best things about a regular farmer's market in a warm and cozy environment. There was a great selection of vendors on two floors. Some of the farm stands had lines that were too long to wait in but I appreciated the opportunity to get some farm fresh eggs, jam from Doves and Figs, and baked goods from local businesses! The best thing I got today was feta from Foxboro Cheese. I am middle eastern so I hold my feta to a high standard. Their feta was the creamiest and most delicious feta I have ever had. read more

Shake off your Friday night sins and come here to feel better about both your diet and yourself by stocking up on nothing but the finest in locally grown and locally sourced foodstuffs. This indoor veg-fest always manages to brighten up my winter Saturdays and send me home with tons of healthy treats. From 9:30am-2:30pm in the lovely Arts at the Armory space, there's a meeting of the stomachs with farms, bakeries, cheese mongers and purveyors of other fine local goodies. Breads, meat, eggs, veggies, fruits, wine, chocolate, cheese, pasta...the list goes on and on. Ever had a watermelon radish?? I have, and it's amazing. Parsnips? Got em. Sweet potatoes? Yessir. Dino Kale? Tyrannosaurus yes. And if you lean more towards carrot cake than carrots- there are plenty of baked good options here for you as well. Great Cape Baking nails it with their apple cider donuts plus there's Hi-Rise & Dan's Brick Oven bread for your carb fix. Or swing by 7ate9 Bakery's booth for some of the most delicious cheesecake. Parched from all that shopping? Grab some Kombucha from Culinary Cruisers. Final Takeaways: *bring cash (I said local, not cheap) *come with reusable bags for your goodies *be open-minded, ask questions, and finally...try the samples. I mean, maybe you've gone your whole life not knowing the glories of Dino Kale (or Apple Cider Donuts) and that's just sad. read more

Being from CA I really appreciate that this Winter's farmers market actually can give us Somerville people some good produce even when there is snow on the ground everywhere! They have some parking in the back, but if you bike here you can enter yourself in a raffle, so that is a win win right there! This place has meat if you want meat, even some chorizo but it isn't the cheapest meat in the world. But what is cheap is 2 pounds of locally caught mussels for $5!!! Yup $5!! I've never been so excited buying seafood before until this place. And they had so many leafy, wonderful greens--kale (two kinds actually), collard greens, spinach...the list goes on and on and we even got some of the best carrots I've ever tasted! There is some wine tasting too, and of course some tasty cheeses too. And in case you want to get food and eat it there, or sip on a coffee or something (yup they have that too!) they always have live music here and even some face painting for kids too. Definitely a winner when it comes to farmers market, and since it is indoors, every week you can be a winner no matter the weather! read more

Let's hope the success of this winter's farmers market launches a new tradition and we can look forward to this fabulous bounty every winter. If you like fresh, local seafood right from the docks, delicious cheese, baked goods, wine, meats, chocolate, hummus and all kinds of produce, it is well worth a visit. Saturdays from 10-2 through the end of March. The building is pulsing with local energy, so even if you have never been here before, it is easy to spot- eager people coming and going. They encourage bikers, walkers and bus riders, so I took the 88 bus which let me off practically at the door. (You could also walk from Davis- not a long walk at all.) Bring your own bags, bring an appetite for the samples and bring your kids- there's entertainment in the form of musical productions each week. Plus, the kids will have fun trying the samples- just keep them away from the vino. That sweet dessert wine looks like Cherry Kool Aid. There's a nice space for sitting down up the stairs, along with some additional vendors like When Pigs Fly and Taza Chocolate. Maybe they move locations around every week, but do check out the upstairs- I almost left without venturing up there. This is such a delightful contrast from shopping at your local chain market. You will really enjoy yourselves and we can't say that about our weekly excursions to the local Shaw's. Somerville does it again. They really are leading the way in promoting local businesses and a green lifestyle. You light up my life, Somerville. Next time I will bring another bag so I can get even more. read more

Every winter I lament the lack of fresh local produce. Or at least that was the excuse I gave myself when I resolved to enter the Armory, where I knew I would allow myself to be seduced by the delicious diet-destroying combination of chocolate, baked goods, and sweet sweet wine. I entered to discover that the place was mobbed. I mean, I knew it would be popular. This is, after all, Somerville, home to the densest granola-eating population east of Berkeley. Still, I was thoroughly impressed by the turnout. I was also impressed with the offerings. The stands ranged from the aforementioned chocolate, bread, and wine to fresh local produce, fish (yes!), and meat. Thus did I manage to buy enough haddock and swordfish for a week's worth of dinners and convince myself that bacon is in fact a vegetable, but only if it's locally grown. I'm hoping that next week the lines at the produce stands will be a bit more manageable so I can get my hands on some of those fantastic-looking parsnips and carrots. read more

Color me impressed: debit/credit card transactions for "market currency," 3 produce vendors, taza chocolate, wine, bread, seta w/her mediterranean food!! (so good to see her again, hah), and really gorgeous recipe cards with photographs of the ingredients. Great atmosphere, coffee, places to sit, etc. For $20, I got sweet potatoes, purple potatoes, green bell peppers, several summer squash, purple kale, plum tomatoes, apples, onions, and a locally made cream soda. For free: the entertainment of locavore snobs teaching their kids to complain about kale from florida being sold at the market. Fun for everyone! read more

I love farmers markets so I was very excited to hear about the Somerville Winter Farmers Market. The market is small and set up on two floors inside the armory which is nice. The produce is very good: the kale, apples, collards, carrots, radishes etc. Everything we have bought has been extremely fresh and delicious. They offer a nice selection of locally grown meat and yes the prices are on par or more expensive than Whole Foods but you get what you pay for. They also carry a small selection of local seafood, cheese, and wine. All the merchants are very friendly and willing to tell you all about their product. They also have some coffee, baked goods, and a few specialty items like chocolate, jams, etc. Its small but still a great stop for light shopping and I will definitely be back! read more

Good things - Union Square Donuts: Vanilla bean donut. I love the light chewy texture of these. - Taza Chocolate: Yumm. But very pricey. - Oak Knoll Cheese: Very friendly with samples, wide cheese selection. Their garlic fromage blanc is amazing. Disappointing things: - Great Cape Baking Co.: Apple cider donuts were a bit too dry and dense, and not flavorful enough. read more

Blast! I'm not the first to review. So close. Cute. Small. Indoors. Free Samples. There's some pretty awesome free samples going on here. Most vendors aren't sampling, but hold onto your britches for this: Taza Chocolate and 3 wineries are serving up some yummy goodies. I particularly enjoyed the fortified brandy. I wish it was a little closer to the T, but it's not terribly far from Porter Sq. It would be worthy of more stars if it was bigger as well. But it's also the only farmers market around. read more

My first time going to the SWFM. I didn't really get to delve too deep into everything this is all about. I was overwhelmed by all of the colors and smells but underfunded to partake in most of them. Ordered some quiche and a latte in the cafe. A little expensive and somewhat slow service but still nice. If you are looking for a Crunchy/Granola/Birks scene that's also healthy for you than this is the place. read more

Between this winter farmer's market and the summer one in Union Square, I feel that I am offered wonderful access to fresh produce, poultry, seafood, and other goodies at a fair price given the quality of the offerings. As others have mentioned, parking can be a bit of a challenge but it is totally worth it in the end. The market has definitely maximized the space by getting a lot of home-grown and homemade goodness packed into the space, where the organized chaos is part of the charm of the building and the market. Upstairs, there are usually a half a dozen vendors or so, including the absolutely fabulous Jordan Brothers Seafood. Every week, I faithfully march up the stairs with the goal of trying the different selections she brings each week. There are usually 6 or so different seafood offerings, though I am a sucker for the tuna steaks and the scallops. Both taste great with a sear to them, preserving the fresh taste of the sea! But enough about Jordan Brother, this review is about the farmer's market. Down on the first floor, this is where I buy eggs from Stillman's (last week's carton had a robin's egg blue-colored egg). The eggs are divine! $4 for 1/2 dozen, $7 for a dozen. This vendor also sells really good chorizo, which makes a great breakfast along with a fried egg. The produce vendors are located on the first floor as well, and depending on the time of year, you will see hearty root vegetables, leafy kale and chard, and herbs. You will also generally see a purveyor or two of wine, cheese, and homemade sweets. Not to be forgotten are the wonderful cider donuts! This is quite a family friendly event as well. Generally there are musical acts including DJ's and acoustic guitars. There is a wonderful vibe as people and families mill around the vendor offerings. I generally try to bring cash, as that is the preferred method of payment. You can use your card to get "market money", but I find that coming prepared is the best bet. I am looking forward to seeing the market transition outside and shopping in the sun at Union Square. The parking lot in back can be a bit of a fiasco, so I tend to park on the street. read more

This review is only reflecting the Farmers Market part. I came here with my sister on Saturday to pick some up items. She has a farm share. The eggs were $8 a dozen! WHAT?! lol. so yea.. i was in complete shock. She got a variety of veggies. She also picked up meat but it was at a different location. So I walked around a bit. There were so many little stands and they all offered a variety of things. I didn't get a see all of it but mostly veggies or different sorts. The price is a bit expensive however so i don't know how much I would spend here if I were to pick up something here and there. It's still cool though and I love the idea of buying straight from farmers rather than a market but sometimes your wallet dictates where you can go. I want to give it a 3.5 stars but settled on 3 instead of 4 because of its price. read more

I can't say enough about the Winter Market. The location is perfect for this kind of community gathering. This place is only a short distance from our place, so we try to visit every weekend, and every weekend we are blown away. Before you start shopping, you can stop in the cafe for a quick coffee and a nibble of pastry. Then, you can wander the 2 floors of food vendors selling everything from craft wines to hand-made candies. There are plenty of Winter staples here, like root veggies and greenhouse fare, but you can also find fresh baked bread, gluten free baked items and fresh meat and fish. They offer a pretty convenient chip system, which they offer on a 1:1 exchange, so that you don't have to deal with cash in the lines. This is incredibly helpful and has saved us a lot time and hassle. Finally, there's the entertainment and vibe. You wouldn't expect this to be a hopping place, like a Summer market, but this place has a buzz. There's usually a musical performer, and everyone is just friendly and chatty. This is definitely a place to come out, relax, and interact with your community. Drivers take note- parking is limited so try to get here 1/2 hour before opening if you want a spot, otherwise it's a battle. read more

I just found out about this market and went with my neighbor today. I am sad the last market for this winter is next week - but I will be going back then, as well as next year. I was impressed with the variety of veggies, meats, cheeses, treats, chocolates... and more. The sellers are very friendly, samples are great, and prices are not bad for mostly all organic, local produce. The quality is very high - veggies are gorgeous and delicious. It was also just a nice atmosphere of locals gathering in a great space for a market with a band playing and people chatting. Even if you only buy one thing, it was a great Saturday morning walk down Highland to the market. Just another amazing thing about living in Somerville :) read more

Rumor has it we almost missed out on having the winter market running this season. Eeeps! That would have been so sad. We're down a dairy vendor this year which is a bit of a bummer but the new vendors and rotating vendors have been wonderful! You've got to try some of Viollette's gluten free baked goods even if you love traditional baked goods, that woman is a baking goddess! Watch the market's Facebook page for vendors and events and just be prepared for a bit of a crowded experience when they're running a few things on the side (seed swaps, library card drives, Broga events, etc...). Oh, and definitely bring CASH, and a couple of REUSABLE SHOPPING BAGS. read more

The folks who run this market have fixed the problems that they had created by changing the rules shortly before the 2013-14 season and causing three of the main vendors to stop coming. There is once again a much wider variety of produce and the market is back to having a better mix of produce vendors, staple vendors (things like bread and cheese), and 'boutique' vendors (things like homemade candy and pre-prepared meals). This can't have happened soon enough since the area winter markets are now competing with Boston Public Market, which opened over the summer and also has a variety of produce vendors in wintertime. read more

Somerville Winter Farmer's Market - The main vendor area from the balcony section - Farmers Market Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

This market is amazing! bustling, music, great energy, local foods! We come here specifically for lilac farms. What an awesome addition-- i hope they're here to stay. Their meats are grass-fed and often cheaper than whole foods! We also buy our carrots, spinach, and eggs at the market. Definitely go early though because the best cuts of meat sell out very quickly! read more

This place is awesome! Lots of variety, free samples and most of the stuff is a good deal. I was a little disappointed to find a booth carrying brands I normally find at TJ's. Also, please turn up the lights so I can see what I'm buying! read more

What a gem! Held every Saturday morning (and early afternoon), November to May, this farmers' market is a lively scene with live music and lots of free samples. Most of the vendors now accept credit cards through the Square iPhone app. This market has all your favorite local vendors: Q's Nuts, Taza Chocolate, and Fiore di Nonno, plus greens and herbs, fruit and vegetables, locally made cheesecakes, fresh seafood, local bread and wine, cheese and pies. Really, what more do you need in life? read more

A winter market? Enough said. Packed with my cool neighbors? Awesome. And with yummy looking local produce and ready to eat foods? Only downside: parking situation. Take your bike, obvi and a backpack. read more

So glad that this was around all winter. I've discovered some great vendors and products that I wouldn't have come across otherwise. Really excited to buy seedlings here for the approaching spring and summer, too. read more

Adela & Jude are traveling musicians, and food activists - and this is one of our favorite markets to perform at. It's a beautiful space, the vendors are all so great and there's a great selection of fresh produce and locally produced goods. We're performing at the Market again on February 15th, and always looking forward to it. Big nice stage, and the only downside is parking is tough around the area. read more

What an enormous success the first ever indoor farmers market in our area was on their opening day, yesterday! I got there in the last hour, and having heard reviews of the mobs of people who got there when it opened at ten am, I was not surprised to find that a lot of the vendors were sold out. Still, there was still a clear example of the beautiful food that we are going to be able to buy for the next 11 markets until it is over, in March. And I'm quite sure that next week they will all be bringing more, now that they know what the potential is. I couldn't be happier! As a locavore this is like Christmas for me! This is a huge step towards making local food more accessible to everyone, and the movement forward that is possible for restaurant purchasing and encouraging farmers, while not apparent to the casual passer through, is life altering. Thank you Somerville, I will be there every week to do my shopping, but I will be getting there a lot earlier :-) See you on Saturday! read more

long winter chokes earth heart warms at sight of farmer dirt and love make food I don't think I can gush enough about this Farmer's Market. I'm just so righteously angry that such a market does exist in more place and on more days of the week. If I lived near this place, I wouldn't shop anywhere else. Not TJs, not Whole Foods, not worth it. This market has all that you need to keep a tummy happy. Lots of sample. Apple cider donuts from Great Cape Baking Co. Kumbucha to counteract the apple cider donuts. Somerville, my only complaint to you is: SEVEN DOLLARS for a DOZEN EGGS! I don't care what your excuse is-----that is robbery. I can buy my own chicken for $25. And so, I begrudgingly buy 3 dozen at a time from Stillman's farm for $15. Nobscot Cheeses are awesome. Honey amazing. Grass fed pork, beef, lamb. Delish. Frozen fruit. Green stuff. Root stuff. Treats (like chocolate, nuts, bread, etc). AMAZING mozzarella (seriously buy it, and then contemplate making it yourself) Why aren't you closer? Summer, come faster. It does get VERY crowded, and is worth it to come early. A lot of the vendors take cards but if you don't have cash, you can buy tokens with your card, and voila! You can buy now. Eat local. Eat Fresh. Be a better human. read more

The Somerville and Cambridge winter markets are not just a way to support local farms and local businesses -- they are excellent opportunities to get good food ~~~ fish, milk, cheese, vegetables, apples, bread, etc. And all while hearing (in Somerville) local bands playing up in the rafters. read more

What a fabulous, fun way to spend a Saturday. Love the selection of veggie vendors, fun local music, and variety of delicious treats (local mushrooms, perogies, coffee, homemade breads, caramel popcorn--yum!). Great place to bring my friends visiting from out of town, spend a lazy day with my partner, catch up with folks... read more

We came here the day we were leaving MA after spending 2 nights in Somerville after picking up our rental car. The previous evening we had visited Haymarket and that was too far to return to. I didn't care whether some of the produce was organic or not. We drove over and literally stayed for FIVE minutes. The blocks leading to the market says no parking, permit only, yet there was no place to park!!! We saw some locals parked in permit only parking spots but stayed in the vehicle while the wives go get the produce. There were just a handful of vendors. the entire farmer's mkt was no more than 1/2-3/4 of a block. Most of the items were organic and the prices were super high, compared to what we're used to at our farmer's mkts in northern Calif., even for *organic* produce. We left with 2 ears of corn, though i don't think they were organic. read more

What a place - vegetables, fish, bread, chocolate, coffee, and live music. It's a bustling place that makes you love to be part of the community here! Also very cool that they have a "token exchange" - buy tokens with a credit card that ensure you can pay all the vendors. Most of the vendors take credit cards, but cash or tokens are fastest. read more

A great farmers' market with wide variety of products. They also have a SNAP matching program up to $10, which they are working to expand. You can make donations to the SNAP matching program at the market manager's desk, which is the first table on the left as you walk into the gym. The atmosphere is also warm and welcoming. Definitely a fun place to stop by on a Saturday afternoon. read more

We like to go here for eggs from people who are nice to chickens, the eggs sell out really fast. There are a lot of vegetables and a variety of other things, if you want a 15 dollar loaf of bread this is the spot for you. I on the other hand bought a bread machine at the good will. Maybe I'll start selling my hand crafted artisan loafs the farmers market ! read more

This is a fun and great place to visit on Saturday morning, A nice assortment of vendors just bring lots of cash . Prices are quite high but so is the quality. Lots of energy here and a very healthy environment . A Must visit and worth the trip into Somerville with all the traffic and parking troubles! read more