How emerging networks of local heroes are bringing local food into the winter

by Eli Beckerman

From Amherst to Wayland, from bakers to farmers, there's something magical this winter that is spreading across the Commonwealth and beyond. While the cold New England winter may comfort some that our climate has not yet spun entirely out of control, local food devotees are getting a warm fuzzy feeling as the availability of local food this winter has transformed kitchens, pantries, dinner tables, and shopping habits.

While winter farmers markets are nothing new for the local food advocacy group CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture), this winter they are popping up in unexpected places all over Massachusetts. In addition to one-time market events, and the occasional winter share offered up by community supported agriculture (CSA) farms, a number of weekly farmers markets have found a warm home to extend direct sales from farmers and other vendors throughout the winter.

Photo by Brian Rutledge (rutt)
The Somerville Winter Farmers Market has packed in quite a crowd at Arts at the Armory

The Wayland Winter Farmers Market has brought wool, wine, and lots of local produce into the Russell Garden Center this winter for their second year operating

Slowly but surely, our local food economy is helping to spark a renaissance that is beginning to put more money into the pockets of local farmers, distributors, brewers, winemakers, "value-added" food producers, craftspeople, and more. Demand for local goods is growing, the number and scope of farmers markets are soaring, and Massachusetts is buzzing with new initiatives that stress the importance of buying from local independent enterprises. All of this means that a truly local food system is being re-built from the ground up.

The clarity of this transformation can be felt in full force this winter. Where winter produce had been relegated to root cellars and rare extensions of the growing season of individual gardens, there is a booming market for Massachusetts-made goods. Where a few local farms once offered winter CSA pick-ups, there are now many farms that are putting out incredible winter offerings, in addition to a full range of local seafood, meat, dairy and more. Upcoming CSA "farm share fairs" are taking place in Arlington and Cambridge, featuring at least 9 different farms.

Be on the lookout for a Winter Farmers Market near you, and if there isn't one, think about what you can do to make sure there is one next winter. Below is a list of all the Massachusetts winter farmers markets we're aware of. Share ones we're missing in the comments, and tell us about your local food experiences this winter!