Plymouth Farmers' Market Announces Opening Day

After a winter of discontent, the Plymouth Farmers' Market has a new home for its ninth season: Plimoth Plantation.

After being removed from its home of eight years at Stephens Field, the Farmers' Market, which now brands itself as the "Original" Plymouth Farmers' Market, will open June 7 on the field adjacent to the River Street enterance.

The cowbell will ring every Thursday afternoon from June to October, rain or shine, at 2:30 p.m. Summer thru fall the festive local food gathering will come alive with its customary music series, storytellers, community partners and food literacy demonstrations. The market promotes local agriculture and presents regional farmers who bring the freshest seasonal fruits, vegetables, eggs, herbs, cut flowers and plants directly to residents and visitors.

Also expect local food-makers with cheeses, jams, sauces, honey, locally sourced take home foods, rustic breads, baked goodies, fresh caught lobsters, smoked fish grass-fed meats and earth based artisans with fiber arts, beach stone craft, soaps, herbals, and kitchen pottery.  The market continues to be free and open to the public, all are welcome.

Earlier this year the Plymouth Farmers’ Market was faced with where to re-locate its talented crop of farmers and food-makers that would bring an added value to its loyal and hungry following. Several generous offers from private property owners were gratefully received over the winter, but one opportunity had the weight of history behind it, living history. The market’s Advisory Group and the 2012 market members are pleased to be joining the living history museum on the same day, at the same time, with many of the same farmers and cooks the community has come to expect at the original Plymouth Farmers’ Market.

One of the original Plymouth Farmers’ Market member farmers who will return this season, Dave Purpura of Plato's Harvest Organic Farm of Middleborough, brings certified organic produce to the market each week and is particularly known for his garlic, tomatoes, and eggs.

"Without direct access to the consumer through a viable farmers’ market, I would not be able to maintain an economically sustainable operation on this scale," Farmer Dave said. "Aside from that, this market in particular has been the most supportive, encouraging, devoted and community-based of any that I have attended. After seven years of participation, most customers know me and the farm by name. Contributing to and enjoying the Plymouth Farmers' Market community is a large part of why I farm."  

Market founder, Barbara Anglin, is looking forward to "a fresh season with a welcoming host who, on its own, teaches a greater awareness of farming."

Anglin says it takes skilled and consistent farmers, cooks and a steadfast community following to create such a vibrant farmers’ market. This community support helps the farmers to keep planning, planting and harvesting each year. The farmers who leave their fields to meet the public in Plymouth this year will feel at home in the new location. Sheep, goats, chickens and cows are pastured on the museum property and visitors can enjoy the sights and smells of the farm animals while getting to know more about what has been freshly harvested by their favorite farmers. Shoppers to the market will also find lots of reasons to visit the museum as well, including outdoor cooking exhibits at the Wampanoag Homesite, gardening exhibits at the Colonial Village and twice daily runs of independent, award winning films at Plimoth Cinema.

"We are delighted to welcome Plymouth Farmers' Market to Plimoth Plantation," Plantatin Executive Director Ellie Donovan said, when the museum and farmers’ market mutually announced the news in March. "Farming is an integral part of Plymouth history – and an essential part of this Museum's exhibits – so this collaboration makes sense. We are looking forward to a fun, educational and bountiful season ahead! Welcome to our hearth and our fields."

Plimoth Plantation has been the three year host of the indoor Winter-into-Spring Market, one of the first winter markets in the state, and now the community can enjoy the market year-round, outdoors in summer and fall on its bucolic grassy field off the River Street entrance.

Both the Market and Museum have a demonstrated commitment to educating their guests about food-ways and farming, and will build mutually on each other’s strengths to broaden awareness of nutritious fresh, farm foods with an experiential twist. Rare breeds, heirloom seeds, and bits and bites from locally sourced prepared foods will be frequent topics for patrons to explore at the weekly market this season.

In 2011, the Plymouth Farmers’ Market was the recipient of a Massachusetts Department of Agriculture and Department of Transitional Assistance grant to fund EBT/SNAP redemption and that program will also continue this season along with the WIC and Senior Coupon program. The new market location has ample free parking, with handicap and senior parking close to the market place. Plimoth Plantation is also on the GATRA bus route. The market is looking forward to retaining its traditional features while setting up on a new patch of grass for a bright season at Plimoth Plantation, where preserving the agricultural history of the region is vital.