MassDOT's annual Farmer’s Market Program will begin Friday. The first weekend Farmer’s Markets kick off Friday May 20th, 10am-4pm, at the Charlton East Service Plaza, with stands set up by Frank and Kay Magrone of Shaker Kitchen in Athol and Kevin Nimtz of Prairie Orchard’s.
In addition on Friday, May 20 at the Charlton West Service Plaza and the Framingham Service Plaza, Mark Lamoureux of Palmer will be selling local honey.
MassDOT invites local farmers to take advantage of free space at 11 Service Plazas along I-90 and 7 new locations along various Massachusetts highways to sell their home-grown produce and made-in-Massachusetts products.
More than 300 Massachusetts farmers have been contacted, inviting them to sell their goods and produce.
The Farmer’s Market Program is tremendously popular not only with the thousands of visitors that travel Massachusetts highways, but with the farmers as well. MassDOT offers Massachusetts farmers a unique opportunity to sell and market their wonderful locally grown products.
Complimentary vending space is made available on a first-come, first-served basis at the I-90 Massachusetts Turnpike Service Plazas located in Lee, Blandford, Ludlow, Charlton, Westborough, Framingham and Natick. Space is also available at seven MassDOT locations in Newton, Lexington and Beverly along Route 128/I-95. Other locations include Bridgewater (north & southbound) on Route 24, Plymouth (Route 3), and Barnstable (Route 6). Farmers can sell their goods as long as they do not compete with the businesses that operate within the service plazas.
Farmers already are signed up this season at the following Service Plazas: Charlton East & West, Lee East, Framingham and Plymouth. Local farmers who want more information are asked to contact Dave Fenton at dave.fenton@state.ma.us or 413-572-3171.
When the turnpike was built in western Massachusetts it bypassed local businesses that had served and depended on traffic along east-west highways. Local economies have struggled ever since. Service plazas haven't provided much relief because they are dominated by large corporation.
Farmers Markets are an exception to the rule; a small but real mitigation of damage done by the turnpike. If they contribute to congestion, why not expand service plazas to remedy that? Many of these plazas are surrounded by undeveloped land, making expansion fairly uncomplicated.
Posted by: David Mason | October 04, 2011 at 11:00 AM
Come on... a farmer's market is simply not going to affect your daily travel plans.
It upsets big business and helps the common man... I think that's worth some inconvenience anyway?
Posted by: HCG diet | September 01, 2011 at 02:25 AM
The farmer's market in no way adds to the traffic problem on the MassPike. I really think the last few comments were made by uninformed people who probably should stay home if they can't deal with a little summer time traffic. Blaming the farmer's market is pretty lame.
Posted by: Phantom Watcher | August 29, 2011 at 10:57 PM
I completely agree with this last comment. The current locations are AWFUL. There was SO much traffic on both sides of the Pike, and it was totally unnecessary. I think people sit through enough traffic during the week to get to work in the city, and would appreciate NOT sitting through traffic to get away from the city for a weekend. The location should seriously be reconsidered.
Posted by: Erica | August 14, 2011 at 06:51 PM
How do I find out when and where the farmers markets are? I went to Charlton Pike exit today - no farmers market?
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We post on message boards in the market areas and also distribute a summary on Twitter each Wednesday or thursday. www.twitter.com/massdot
Most weekends this summer have the following schedule:
Farmer's Market Schedule:
Charlton East on Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday 9 AM - 4 PM.
Charlton West on Friday, Saturday & Sunday 9 AM - 6 PM.
Framingham on Friday, Saturday & Sunday from 9 AM - 6 PM.
Lee East on Friday, Saturday & Sunday from 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM.
Plymouth on Friday from 3 PM - 6 PM.
Posted by: Susan | August 07, 2011 at 09:18 PM
Please consider finding a new location for next year Farmer's Market. It's a great idea but the location is just awful. The traffic caused by this event could be totally avoided. There are PLENTY of other venues in MA to hold this event. A rest stop off the Pike is NOT one of those places!!! Please think about it. :(
Posted by: Miserable RI/CT Commuter | July 22, 2011 at 01:06 PM