State and Local Officials Celebrate Massachusetts Farmers Market Week
BOSTON – In celebration of Governor Charlie Baker’s declaration of August 4-10, 2019 as “Massachusetts Farmers Market Week,” Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Commissioner John Lebeaux, local officials, and representatives from the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) and theMassachusetts Farmers Markets Association today toured farmers markets in Eastern and Central Massachusetts. The tour included stops at the Copley Farmers Market in Boston, Lexington Farmers Market in Lexington, and the Hudson Farmers Market in Hudson.
Left to Right: Melissa Pullin (DTA Chief of Staff), Catalina Lopez-Ospina (Director, Mayor's Office of Food Access, Boston), Nicola Williams (Board Member, Sustainable Business Network of MA), MDAR Commissioner John Lebeaux, Edith Murnane (Executive Director, Mass Farmers Markets Association)
“Farmers markets not only provide direct marketing access to farmers, they are also a catalyst to creating healthier communities by providing access to fresh, healthy foods to Massachusetts residents, including SNAP and WIC Program participants and seniors,” said Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Commissioner Lebeaux. “The Baker-Polito Administration is proud to support the Commonwealth’s many farmers markets, and we encourage all residents to visit their local farmers market and purchase fresh Massachusetts-grown products.”
There are approximately 229 summer and fall farmers’ markets and another 53 winter farmers’ markets in communities across the Commonwealth. Universal access to these healthy options is made possible through partnerships and programs such as SNAP, HIP and the WIC and Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Programs. Massachusetts ranks fifth in the nation for direct market sales with over $100 million annually, which accounts for 21.1% of the state’s total sales of agricultural products— the highest proportion in the country.
A complete listing of farmers markets throughout Massachusetts can be found on theMassgrown & Fresher website.
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