Lawrence Downtown Farmers Market
Thank You for a Great 2009 Farmers Market Season!
The Downtown Lawrence Farmers Market has come to a close for the season, but we are grateful to all participants and partners who made this season one of the most successful and enjoyable! Stay tuned for information on next year's Downtown Lawrence Farmers Market, starting up in July 2010.
Groundwork Lawrence to Participate in SNAP/EBT Workshops for Farmers Markets
For the next month, the Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR), the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), and the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (USDA-FNS) will be hosting workshops across the state on how Farmers Markets can benefit from participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps) and Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT). Groundwork Lawrence, which has accepted SNAP/Food Stamps/EBT for the past three years at the Downtown Lawrence Farmers Market and has been noted for its considerable increase in SNAP/Food Stamp sales at the Downtown Lawrence Farmers Market and its efforts to reach out to SNAP/Food Stamp beneficiaries, will be speaking at the workshops about experiences and best practices. The dates and locations for the workshops are as follows:
Thursday, November 12, 2009: Amherst
2:00-3:30 PM at the Department of Agricultural Resources Western Massachusetts Office
101 University Drive, Suite C4, Amherst, MA 01002
Tuesday, November 17, 2009: Waltham
2:00-3:30 PM at the Federation of Massachusetts Farmers' Markets
240 Beaver Street, Waltham, MA 02452
Thursday, November 19, 2009: Holden
3:00-4:30 PM at the USDA Rural Development and Medical Arts Building
52 Boyden Road, Holden, MA 01520
Wednesday, December 2, 2009: East Wareham
3:00-4:30 PM at the UMass Cranberry Experiment Station
1 State Bog Road, East Wareham, MA 02538
For more information, or to RSVP for one of the above workshops, please contact David Webber at 617-626-1754 or David.Webber@state.ma.us
- Join us in our 15th year of the market!
- It's open Wednesdays, from July 8th through October 28th, between 8am and 2pm.
- The market is located on Appleton Way, between Essex & Common Sts. at City Hall (200 Common St.)
- We accept WIC, Famers Market Coupons, EBT, and All Credit and Debit Cards
- The Eagle Tribune covers the 2008 Season
- The Eagle Tribune - Farmers and Shoppers Cope with Rising Prices
- The Boston Globe - Buying Local, Eating Fresh - see photos of the market and listen to one of Live Lawrence's Summer Concert performers, Inca Son.
- View Photos
Lawrence Farmers Market to Host DTA & DAR Joint Press Conference!
Wednesday September 16 at 1 PM - Cooking with the Commissioners!
On Wednesday, September 16th, you are invited to join Commissioner Scott Soares (Department of Agricultural Resources) and Commissioner Julia Kehoe (Department of Transitional Assistance) for a special announcement about a new partnership to bring increased EBT access to Massachusetts Farmers’ Markets, followed by a free cooking demonstration. DAR and DTA are teaming up to make Farmers’ Markets across Massachusetts more accessible to residents with Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. With EBT access, you can buy fresh produce with your Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps)! Brought to you by DAR, DTA, Groundwork Lawrence, and UMass Extension. Get the flyer here.
Spend $5, Get $5 Extra!
Starting at 1:00, the first 25 SNAP participants to spend at least $5 in SNAP benefits will receive an additional $5 to make purchases at the farmers’ market that day! More about SNAP/Food Stamp Benefits at the Lawrence Farmers Market here.
Buy Your Local Fresh Produce at the Lawrence Farmers Market!
The Downtown Lawrence Farmers Market has once again set up shop at Appleton Way next to City Hall (between Essex and Common Streets) this summer so that customers can purchase fresh-picked, nutrient-packed, seasonal produce and goods while supporting local area farms! Now in its 15th season, from 8am to 2pm every Wednesday through October 28th, the market features three farms—Riverdale Farm of Groton, Boston Hill Farm of North Andover, and Brox Farm of Dracut. Vendors selling their usual array of colorful fruits and vegetables, with the addition of farm fresh eggs, homemade breads, local honey, and delicious baked goods.
Be sure to check out the art and crafts for sale by local artists, pick up information about upcoming events, resources, and local organizations, and learn nutritional tips, such as flavorful recipes.
All farmers accept SNAP/Food Stamps/EBT as well as debit, credit, and cash; WIC and senior coupons are also welcome. Please come and enjoy the sights, tastes, and smells of summer with us! For any questions or concerns, or for more information, email Janel (Market Manager) at Groundwork Lawrence or call her at 978.974.0770.
About SNAP/Food Stamp Benefits at the Lawrence Farmers Market
The Downtown Lawrence Farmers Market, managed by GWL since 2006, started operating a wireless EBT terminal in 2007. It was chosen to host the joint press conference based on its high-ranking SNAP/Food Stamp sales within the state of Massachusetts-which this year alone has seen a 180% increase - with GWL's efforts to increase low-income residents' access to fresh, local, and nutritious produce. It is a major focus for not only the Downtown Lawrence Farmers Market but for all of our community food programs to ensure that healthy, sustainably-produced food is getting into the hands of the low-income Lawrence residents who need it the most as they strive to stem the tide of diet-related disease on a limited budget and to build a healthier community where local farmers and local economy benefit and thrive. We are honored to have been chosen to host the press conference, and thrilled to see Massachusetts take a step closer to increasing equal access to farm-fresh food!
See coverage and photos of the market:
