Governor Maura Healey has declared August 3 to August 9, 2025, as Massachusetts Farmers Market Week. The annual observance aims to recognize the importance of farmers markets in supporting local agriculture and providing access to fresh food across the state.
Massachusetts is home to more than 275 farmers markets, serving as gathering places for communities and outlets for over a quarter of the state’s approximately 7,000 farms. These markets not only offer residents nutritious food options but also contribute to keeping farms operational and circulating money within local economies.
“With so much produce in season right now, head out to your local market to support our farmers,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Farmers markets are not only places to buy groceries – they are essential parts of our food system. They provide a reliable source of income for Massachusetts famers, bring healthy food into neighborhoods, and create lively spaces where communities can come together to support local agriculture.”
To commemorate the week, Commissioner Ashley Randle from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) will visit three farmers markets in different regions: SoWa Open Market in Boston on August 3rd; Worcester Out to Lunch Market on August 6th; and Sheffield Farmers Market on August 8th. The visits are intended to highlight how these markets serve diverse populations and help connect families with locally grown products.
“Farmers markets support small and mid-sized farms that depend on direct-to-consumer sales,” said Commissioner Randle. “These markets are where growers earn a fair price for their products and where families can build relationships with farmers to learn more about how their food is grown. They are a powerful tool for strengthening both food access and the agricultural economy.”
Many Massachusetts farmers markets participate in programs designed to address food insecurity by accepting benefits such as SNAP, HIP, WIC, and Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Programs. This approach helps ensure that low-income households have better access to healthy foods.
Following reductions in federal SNAP funding and other assistance programs, Governor Healey issued an Executive Order establishing an Anti-Hunger Task Force comprised of state agencies, leaders from the food system sector, and community partners. The group will coordinate strategies aimed at improving statewide food access and reinforcing emergency nutrition infrastructure.
In addition, MDAR launched the Farmers Market Sustainability Grant Program in 2023. Now entering its second year, this initiative recently distributed over $130,000 among 17 farmers markets throughout Massachusetts. The funds aim to bolster strategic planning efforts and enhance marketing campaigns intended to boost sales at these venues.
The administration’s commitment is further demonstrated through legislative proposals like the Mass Ready Act which seeks targeted investments in farmland preservation, infrastructure upgrades, and expanded food security initiatives—all measures designed for long-term agricultural sustainability.
Coinciding with Farmers Market Week—and ahead of the United States’ upcoming 250th anniversary—MDAR is launching a new website focused on Massachusetts agriculture. The site features details about seasonal crops available locally, tools for finding nearby farmers markets, recipes using regional ingredients, as well as historical information about farming traditions within the state.
A full directory of all Massachusetts farmers markets can be accessed via MDAR’s MassGrown & Fresher website (https://www.mass.gov/massgrown).
The Department’s mission is “to cultivate a robust and equitable agricultural economy, promote a safe and resilient food system, and preserve a healthy environment for Massachusetts farmers, animals, and consumers.”
