What's your Farmers' Markets verdict?

[greygarious]

Living in Billerica, now that I am retired I was able to get to a number of farmers' markets this season: Bedford, Lexington, Andover, Carlisle, and Lowell. Haven't yet been to Westford this year, but did go last fall - they run through November so it's nice to have that resource once the others have stopped. On occasion, I buy prepared foods, meat, or cheese if they are available, but am not interested in the crafts. Mostly, I'm there for the produce. So, although there are only 6-8 vendors there, Lowell gets my highest marks for variety, freshness, and price. All are produce except for one with jewelry. Some of the farmers have Asian ingredients which I'd not seen before, and enjoyed trying.

If you've tried more than one farmers' market, which are your favorites, and why?

[BackBayGirl]

I'm a fan of the Copley Farmers' Market. I have yet to go to the Brookline one and I do want to try out Union Square.

[lasiciliana]

the farmers market in gloucester isn't that great... and the hours are aweful!
Thursdays from 3:30-6:30. For those of us that work until 5pm and have to commute, we get a very small window of time to head down and check things out.

Would be GREAT if they did it on a weekend morning, would get way more foot traffic and buyers.

[Ralphie_in_Boston]

My experience has been most farmers markets have those kind of hours (but might open earlier). Definitely requires a mad rush from the office to make it by closing time, only to see everything picked through already

[bgavin]

Second that!
Why not a Saturday morning?

[smtucker]

This summer my farmer's market quickly settled into a routine. Saturday at Union Square, a lovely walk from my home. Monday a quick stop at Central during my lunch hour and wrapping the week up on Thursday at Belmont. [The Belmont Market ended up as an every other week trip due to the distance.]

Union highlights are the Drumlin Farm, B&R bakery, Hmong farmers, the herb guy early in the season and the folks from Bolton. Though I had a meat CSA with Stillman, occasionally I picked up something extra from them as well.

Central Square... love Dicks, Hutchins, the fruit people [not Kimballs, the other one] and the organic egg folks.

Belmont offers Stillman again, just in case, B&R bread, Hutchins [yea, I have a thing for them] and Dicks.

This summer I enjoyed the markets so very much. Maybe it was a great growing season, but the quality of the vegetables seemed exceptional this summer.

[yumyum]

Second those egg folks at Central.

[Karl S]

Melrose has been invigorated this year. While we miss the much-loved Bart's Farm of Leominster, which retired from the FM scene, the replacement, Dick's did a good job once it got it's logistical setup in place over the first month, and we've had two other smaller farms and a great bread place, and lately an artist.

[yumyum]

I go to Davis Square, Central Square and Union Square regularly. The others are bigger and better, but I'm very happy with the way Union Square is coming along ... it's small but mighty. On Saturday, I picked up veggies and herbs from the Hmong gardeners, bread from B+R, fingerlings from Kimball, squash from Drumlin and lamb from Stillman's farm. I like seeing my neighbors and popping into Reliable market or Sherman's cafe while I'm there.

[itaunas]

Union Square has also been my favorite this year, although I haven't gotten to as many as I would like (including Davis which I haven't been). YumYum did the Hmong's have any Maxixe on Saturday, I am still hoping to try a few more different dishes with it this year and the Brazilian stores have been out...

[yumyum]

I didn't see maxixe -- and google images tells me I would have definitely noticed it had it been there. Amaranth, baby bok choy, pea tendrils, dill, cilantro, and lovely little eggplants, though.

[Small Plates]

I love Union too. I got some beautiful Hen of the Woods mushrooms there from Ben a few weeks ago that were nonpareil. Also - Drumlin Farms was there - I got some ground cherries (new to me!) that were such a find. (An aside - we love Drumlin Farms - when we were kids, a Sawet (sp?) Owl showed up in our back yard, and we brought him to Drumlin - we have been fans ever since.) Anyway - the brioche at the little bakery stand (shamefully, I forget the name) is wonderful. Small market with a lot of stuff! We also regularly go to Arlington, which is where we pick up our meat CSA. It has a lot of everything - including bakery (had the pecan pie last week, which was vy good); the cheese booth; the fish; Flora restaurant has baked goods, awesome pickles and Melissa's flowers; and of course the award-winning tomatoes at Stillman's. I have some of their end of the season corn, which is about the sweetest I have had all year. The corn soup we made from it was the best I have ever had. Wish corn season would last forever.

[BostonZest]

Is that Benjamin the mushroom guy who sell to all the best restaurants. Since L'Espalier moved, I never see him anymore.

He would make it worth a trip to Union this week.

[Aromatherapy]

Hm, I don't think so, it's one of the farmstands (can't remember the name). Excellent HoW mushrooms last week, not sure he has them every time. Drumlin finally had hot chilis (jalapeno, habanero etc.) on sale so I loaded up ($3/lb instead of 25 cents each). The smoked kielbasa at Stillman is really good. I didn't make it to many other markets this year, but Belmont is nice. Another big draw for Union (and I concur on its virtues) is that it's Saturday morning.

[KMG]

If you have not tried the organic white frozen corn at Trader Joe's that is a good substitute once the wonderful season of corn is over.

[digga]

"Small + mighty"...love that. Sounds like the bar I've craved to open.

Union Sq is small, friendly, convivial, and downright neighborly. What more would one want? We enjoyed the Hmong's veggies, B+R bread, gorgeous rainbow Swiss chard, HUGE organic scallions, perfumed cilantro, urban line-dancing, cute totes and t-shirts, and reflective patches to sew onto your messenger bag. We will continue enjoying through the winter the Urban Beekeeper's honey slathered on our slow-cooked whole grain hot cereal on the weekends.

I think most importantly, CHers have a local FM to enjoy within walking distance of their own homes.