Cambridge Winter Farmers Market (Cambridge, Massachusetts)

I’ve had to curtail my travels the past couple of months to take care of my dog. Oscar is a sweet-souled, short-haired collie going on 14 years. His main challenges are managing the indignities of aging: diminishing strength and wobbly balance. Every day at this point is a gift.

As much as I love traveling, I’ve appreciated staying close to home. He pauses to sniff every twig during walks, and I get a chance to practice the art of slowing down. Despite his increasingly clumsy gait, his spirit remains supple and his curiosity undiminished. I scratch him behind the ears, tell him he’s a good boy, and let him linger as long as he wants at leaf piles. The delight that he takes in simple pleasures becomes the basis of my meditation.

Another benefit to more time at home is the chance to explore my local winter markets. I previously wrote about the indoor farmers market in Somerville, Massachusetts. I also recently visited the Cambridge Winter Farmers Market. It is the only winter market in Cambridge. This is its 7^th season.

Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm, early January until early April, vendors bring their goods to the gymnasium at the Cambridge Community Center (scroll down for details). About 20 vendors sell fruits and vegetables, meats, fish, cheeses, baked goods, specialty items, and handmade crafts.

Winter Moon Roots in Hadley, Silverbrook Farm in Dartmouth, and Common Acre Farm in Mansfield (all Massachusetts based) offer organic produce. Carrots, beets, potatoes, onions, celeriac, and turnips are in hefty supply, as are winter squash and hearty greens.

My friend is thrilled to find good-looking bunches of kale, as I am to chance upon tender micro-greens that pack a punch of flavor. Fresh eggs, grass-fed meats, and seafood from New England waters are ample ingredients for a variety of meals. If you like fungi, head to the North Spore folks who sell a variety of mushrooms that they cultivate themselves.

Cheeses and other dairy from Narragansett Creamery and Brookford Farm, ready-to-eat meals such as empanadas and Egyptian-style street food, and chocolates from Tick Tock round out the edible offerings.

Everything at this market is either grown, harvested, or produced in the region. Depending on the week, other displays might include whimsical illustrations of veggies, fun soaps, and highly practical winter hats and socks–even dryer balls!–made from alpaca wool. 

The Cambridge Winter Farmers Market is a fine example of widening access to healthy, affordable food and promoting local entrepreneurs. It draws most of its customers from the surrounding Riverside neighborhood. The market matches SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) dollars and participates in Healthy Incentives, a Massachusetts-based pilot program aimed at bringing healthy, fresh foods directly into communities that might not otherwise have easy access to them. Translators are available to assist customers for whom English is not their first language. Gift cards can be purchased online, which is a nifty innovation for a neighborhood market.

Live music fills the cavernous gymnasium. Toys and activities occupy young children while their parents make the rounds of the market stalls. Musical guests and activities change each week. Check here for the season’s full listing.

The market is not crowded, and the mood is subdued. That makes it easy to complete one’s shopping before moving on to the rest of the weekend, assured that the pantry will be stocked with fresh and local food.

art by Hannah Goodman

Market manager Janel Wright sums up what excites her about this market: “First and foremost, I care a lot about cultivating community, bringing people together. We are stronger as a society when we are able to have gathering spaces like a local market where neighbors can connect once a week. I am also passionate about building a vibrant local economy and at the same time making sure the wonderful local goods that New England produces are available to all, regardless of income level. And I love food! It’s a delight to be at the market each week and try the many wonderful products our vendors bring. Their dedication to their products is so impressive!”

I am glad to have this indoor farmers market nearby, and a group of vendors who are willing to transport their high-quality goods each Saturday throughout these cold months. I’m also happy to have alpaca dryer balls (who knew?!) that keep the static at bay. Anything that makes winter a little easier is much appreciated, both by me and my pooch.

Details:

The Cambridge Winter Farmers Market is located at the Cambridge Community Center, 5 Callender St., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 (between Central Square and Memorial Drive, near the intersection of Western and Putnam Avenues). It is open Saturdays, from the first week of January through the first week of April, from 10 am-2 pm.

Parking is limited, but there are both metered spots and resident-permit spaces in the vicinity. If coming by public transportation, it’s a 7-minute walk from the Central Square T station. For more details about parking and directions, see this link. 

Related Posts:

Somerville Winter Market (Somerville, Massachusetts

Winter Season at the Markets

Why Shop at Farmers Markets?

Let’s Get Fresh