July 31, 2024 By Carol Britton Meyer
The Select Board this week proclaimed Saturday, Aug. 10, Hingham Farmers Market Day in conjunction with the celebration of National Farmers Market Week, Aug. 4-10.
HFM, now in its 46th season, is the third-oldest farmers market in the state.
The popular market attracts shoppers from Hingham and surrounding communities. “Two weeks ago, we had almost 100 people waiting to get into the market [at opening time],” HFM, Inc. President Mark Cullings told the board.
A proclamation read at this week’s meeting praises farmers markets as “essential to the vitality of Massachusetts farms and part of the cultural tradition of the Commonwealth,” creating “a festive open air setting” that enhances community spirit and civic pride by offering a natural place for the community to gather, with positive impacts on the local economy.
“This is very much a team effort and wouldn’t happen without our dedicated volunteers,” including the Friends of the HFM, Cullings said.
The HFM collaborates with the Hingham Food Pantry and the Fruit Center Marketplace, with some of the vendors donating leftover fresh produce and baked goods at the end of the market sessions.
These items are boxed and then placed in cold storage at the Fruit Center until they are picked up the following Monday and delivered to the pantry. “Soon thereafter this food is on people’s tables,” Cullings said. “It’s been a terrific experience so far, and we appreciate everyone’s cooperation.”
HFM, which is one of 216 summer/fall farmers markets in the state, will continue to operate until late November from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Station Street parking lot.
After a short break, the winter market will open again in the Wompatuck State Park Visitors Center. Watch for updates.