The Vermont Maple Syrup Company

Ben Howrigan and Joey Gaughan at The VT Maple Syrup tent.

This season at the Braintree Farmers Market visit our full-time maple syrup vendor led by Ben Howrigan.  The Vermont Syrup Company has been built off strong traditions of 6 previous generations.  Owned by Ryan, Sam, and Ben Howrigan, their family has producing Pure Vermont Maple Syrup in Fairfield, Vermont since 1876.  They offer certified organic syrups and other maple products that are sure to please all.  Try one their amazing products and it is sure to be love at first taste.  You can always come visit them at vermontsyrupcompany.com

The local strawberry harvest season has been very prolific this year so please drop by and pick up some of these succulent jewels before their gone.  Strawberries are described as a superfood because they are loaded with nutrient rich antioxidants like vitamin C which boosts your immune system.  They taste delicious and are good for your health.  The Massachusetts strawberry season is fleeting so get out and enjoy them while you can.

The Braintree Farmers Market operates Saturdays from 9 to 1 in front of the Braintree Town Hall, rain or shine, at One JFK Memorial Dr., Braintree.  In the case of severe weather the market moves inside the town hall.

Kids Day is Saturday June 29th, 2013

Matt & Morgan Stidham love the Braintree Farmers Market.

Just in time to join in with Braintree's Independence Day celebrations, the Braintree Farmer’s Market is hosting a Kids Day on Saturday, June 29th, from 9 to 1.  Along with our diverse array of farmers and vendors we will have many great kids activities to keep your little ones having fun at the market all morning.   The fun will conclude just in time for you to catch the July 4th parade as it passes by the Market.  The day’s festivities will kick off before the market opens at 8:15 with free Kids Zumba led by Bridget Keddy, owner of Bridget’s Dance Studio in Braintree.  Have your kids try out this fun form of exercise on the mall in front of the Braintree Town Hall.  Once the market opens at 9 am, we will have local musician Suzanne McNeil playing music from her upcoming children’s album “Just Like You”.  Suzanne is a soulful singer with a roots rock edge in her songwriting. She has been teaching children for the past ten years and is currently an elementary school music teacher.  Kids will be sure to have a blast with the ongoing activities under the big tent!  Tie Dying is back by popular demand.  We will have bandanas and backpacks available for the kids to create their own work of art or bring your own cotton t-shirt.  There is a minimal fee to cover the cost of materials.  Also, kids can complete our market scavenger hunt for a chance to win a Braintree Farmers Market T-Shirt while parents do their shopping.  Have fun searching for items sold at the market, while learning about healthy foods.  Win win!  Last but not least, the Thayer Public Library will be hosting two worm themed storytimes followed by a “wormy” craft.  Storytimes will start at 9:30 and 10:30.  Please arrive at the market early for this market to ensure you won't get stuck in parade traffic.  The parade starts at 11:45 and passes the market around noontime.  The Braintree Farmers Market is located in front of the Braintree Town Hall at 1 JFK Memorial Dr. Braintree.

Special events are sponsored in part by Sustainable Braintree and Braintree Electric Light Dept.

Strawberry Festival June 22nd 2013

Join us for Strawberry Shortcake as we celebrate the local strawberry harvest.

On Saturday, June 22nd, from 9 to 1, the Braintree Farmers Market is celebrating with a Strawberry Festival.  Farmers will have locally grown strawberries galore.  Enjoy freshly made Strawberry Shortcake under the events tent.  Live entertainment.

The Strawberry Festival is sponsored in part by Sustainable Braintree and Braintree Electric Light Dept.

Market Opens June 15th

Strawberry Festival is June 22nd

The Braintree Farmers Market is celebrating it's fifth season starting on June 15th, 2013 and will operate every Saturday from 9 to 1, rain or shine, at the Braintree Town Hall, 1 John F Kennedy Memorial Drive, Braintree, MA.  The market is located in the parking lot unless there is severe weather when it is moved inside the town hall.  Look for a wide variety of local farms and foods including freshly picked produce, baked goods, honey, eggs, meats, cheeses, sauces, vinegars, oils, soaps, preserves, wines, pasta, prepared foods, ice cream, granola, coffees, teas, Vermont maple syrup, body products, chocolate and more.  The market prides itself in being a one-stop shopping experience for local foods.

Special dates to remember are the Strawberry Festival on June 22nd that features delicious harvest of local strawberries from our farmers and Strawberry Shortcake whipped up by our very own Homestyle Caterers.  June 29th is Kids Day with tie dye, storytelling, crafts and more with the grand finale being Braintree's 4th of July Parade that marches right in front of the market.  Our famous Clam & Lobster Feast is August 31st when Fresh Catch Seafood sets up their kitchen and cooks up your fresh seafood to order.  Sept. 7th is Sustainable Braintree's Earth Celebration that includes displays and activities that will help you live a cleaner and greener lifestyle.  The last outdoor market for the season is Oct. 26th which is Make a Difference Day when you can help your friends and neighbors in need by donating gently used items to various, participating organizations.  In return for your efforts receive a free pumpkin grown by one of our farmers.  The big hoe-down of the year is the Indoor Thanksgiving Market on Nov. 23rd when all our vendors, plus a few more, celebrate the end of the harvest season inside the Braintree Town Hall.  All events are free.

Green Rewards Program at The Farmer's Garden

Use Green Rewards at The Farmer's Garden for freshly grown veggies.

Spring is here and it is time to start thinking about joining The Farmer's Garden Green Rewards debit card or join their CSA program.

The CSA Program will run for 12 weeks from July 11th - Sept. 26th.

CSA Green Rewards is a great option for members who don't like the unknown. The Green Rewards Program was designed to meet your needs. It is a pre-loaded debit card redeemable at their farm stand or any of their Farmer's Market locations for fruits and vegetables.

By pre-paying for a Green Rewards debit card, members can buy the exact type of produce they would normally use on a weekly basis throughout the season while still supporting the local farm by keeping labor costs down.  This allows The Farmer's Garden to pass a 15% savings bonus directly to you when you sign-up. The debit card starts with a minimum purchase of $100 (Valued at $115). You must pre-pay by July 1st to receive the 15% in savings. 

CSA Offerings by Second Nature Farm

Greens grown by Second Nature Farm.

Second Nature Farm is a 4-acre diversified fruit and vegetable farm in Norton, MA. Their nutrient-rich produce is Certified Naturally Grown, and the Farm abstains from using any chemical fertilizers, pesticides or fungicides. The Farm strives to put the creativity and fun back into eating, and as such cultivates many unique and colorful varieties of vegetables, both heirloom and hybrid.
Their CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Program runs for the duration of the Braintree Farmers Market. Each week there are 1-2 "core" items that all CSA members receive, and 6-7 "you choose" items that members select from the farm's produce display.  This allows each member to customize their share so that it best fits the needs of the individual or family. 
For more information about the CSA, visit www.secondnaturefarm.com or email FarmerAdam: adam@secondnaturefarm.com

Sustainable Braintree Farmers Market News for 2013

Braintree Farmers Market location during the Blizzard of 2013.

The weather on the South Shore has been throwing us for a loop lately but, rest assured, plans are in the works for the 2013 Braintree Farmers Market 2013 season.  The market will be opening on Saturday, June 15th, from 9 to 1 at our location on JFK Memorial Drive, Braintree, MA.  The market will operate every Saturday thru October 26th with a Special Thanksgiving Market inside the Braintree Town Hall on November 23rd, 2013.

Planning for the next market season begins as soon as the market closes in November so we can ensure that each year will be better than the last.  We hope that all of our market supporters made it through the Blizzard of 2013 safe and sound and we look forward to seeing everyone again when the weather is more agreeable and the market opens in June.