Dorchester Winter Farmers' Market

During a time of rapid change in the way we think about food--in our bodies, in our homes, and in our communities, it is important to ensure that the new emphasis on organic, local, healthy, community-controlled food systems does not bypass low-income, racially diverse communities. To address these issues, residents of Dorchester, Boston's largest and most diverse neighborhood, have been joining hands to build a permanent consumer and worker owned cooperative market and food hub. The Dorchester Winter Farmers Market will be our first project! The Winter Farmers' Market will provide area-wide access to farm fresh produce during the winter months. Residents of our culturally-rich area, which is composed of Vietnamese, Haitian, Jamaican, Cape Verdean, Hispanic, African-American, Irish, and other populations, still lack access to quality produce for most of the year. Rates of obesity and diabetes are soaring, poverty is widespread, and a significant portion of our population faces severe food insecurity. The Winter Farmers' Market will operate in a central Dorchester location on Sunday afternoons from January through March, and will bring together local farmers selling winter produce with other vendors selling locally made products such as bread, cheese, meats, etc. We will be including products that are culturally appropriate for the diverse population of Dorchester and the surrounding area. The market will accept EBT cards (food stamps) and double the buying power of low-income residents up to $20 through the city's Bounty Bucks Program. We are inviting local neighborhood groups working on food and health issues to participate in the market, and local musicians to provide entertainment. The goal is to create a public space that brings together residents from all backgrounds to celebrate healthy food. Not only will this be Dorchester's first and only winter farmers' market, it will also be the only winter farmers' market in the entire city of Boston, and we think that's pretty special. The grand opening is currently scheduled for Sunday, January 8th.