August 7, 2020 by Carol Britton Meyer
There's good news for Hingham Farmers Market fans who enjoy choosing their own fresh fruit, vegetables, and other tasty offerings!
Following unanimous support from the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals this week, the market will resume its traditional walk-through format Aug. 15 -- on a smaller scale and with social distancing and other COVID-19 guidelines in place.
The hours will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine.
The market is currently operating according to a drive-through model, which requires patrons to pre-order products.
"We’re grateful for the efforts of so many people to get us to this point," HFM, Inc. President Mark Cullings told the Hingham Anchor. "We appreciated the opportunity granted by the town to get an early start on this season’s market with the drive-through model, but now we can transition to one that fully complies with Massachusetts Department of Public Health guidelines and allows pedestrian traffic and actual shopping."
The market will be much smaller and considerably different from what HFM organizers and patrons have become accustomed, but it will continue to offer the freshest local produce and food products.
"The HFM’s mission is to support local agriculture, and doing so has never been as important as it has become during the current public health emergency," Cullings said. "Our loyal customers and vendors have been wonderful during this difficult time, and we look forward to a robust remainder of the season."
Since the market opened in May, HFM organizers have been assisted by "a wonderful group of volunteers, without whom we couldn’t operate," he said. "As we transition, these volunteers will be even more critical, and we hope more will join us."
The best way to learn about what’s happening -- including how the walk-through market will operate and what customers show know before they attend -- is to subscribe to the HFM’s newsletter -- "HFMarket Matters" --by going to the market’s website: www.hinghamfarmersmarket.org and opening the “Market News” link under the “About Us” tab.
Check out https://hinghamanchor.com/hingham-farmers-market-hoping-to-revive-walk-through-market-on-smaller-scale/ for full details about the upcoming walk-through market.