As Bedford Farmers’ Market Regroups, Local Foods Still Close By

Tunbridge Hill Farm, https://tunbridgehillfarm.com/ - Photo by Geoff Hanson — *Tunbridge Hill Farm, https://tunbridgehillfarm.com/ – Photo by Geoff Hanson*

By Barb Purchia, Bedford Farmers’ Market President

Unfortunately there is not going to be a Bedford Farmers’ Market (BFM) this season. The BFM board has decided to take the whole year off and to spend the time concentrating on building our volunteer base.

The BFM is an all-volunteer organization and depends on community support, innovative ideas, and active participation. There are lots of opportunities to help plan for a 2014 market and bring it to fruition. If you are interested in participating on the BFM Board of Directors, please contact Barbara Purchia, [email protected].

In the meantime, there are several alternatives to the Bedford Farmers’ Market.

First, there are great farmers’ markets in neighboring towns :

Lexington Farmers’ Market on Tuesdays 2 -6:30 [https://lexingtonfarmersmarket.org/]
Billerica Farmers’ Market on Mondays 3-7:00, starting June 24 [https://www.billericafarmersmarket.org/]
Carlisle Farmers’ Market on Saturdays, 8-12:00 starting June 22, [https://www.carlislefarmersmarket.org/CFM/Summer.html ].

Bedford has a fantastic local farm, Chip-In Farm on Hartwell Road, which has fresh eggs, vegetables, fruits and other locally produced foods.

Another alternative is a CSA or Community Supported Agriculture. CSAs provide a way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer other than at a farmers’ market.

Here are the basics about how a CSA works: a farmer offers a certain number of “shares” to the public. Typically the share consists of a box of produce, but other farm or local products may be included, such as fish, meats, flowers, or eggs. Interested consumers purchase a “share” of the harvest and in return receive a box (bag, basket) of seasonal fresh-picked fruits and vegetables each week throughout the farming season. This arrangement is really a partnership between your local farmer and you, the consumer.

While shares can often be purchased starting in mid-winter, the CSAs below still have availability: