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Farmer’s Market readies for move to Legion Field with new hours and activities planned for 2016

The June 4th kick off will feature a traveling petting zoo, live band, face painting, health and wellness guests, and the sale of fresh local food.
Posted on: May 16, 2016 - 9:08am

Weymouth, MA – Mayor Robert Hedlund today announced that the Weymouth Farmer’s Market will kick off its 2016 season on Saturday, June 4th.  This year, the market will have a new home at Legion Memorial Field, as well as new hours from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.  Opening day at the market will feature a traveling petting zoo, live band, face painting, and fitness demonstration.

“This is going to be a fun family event and a great start to the farmer’s market season,” said Mayor Hedlund.  “Legion Field will be busy this summer with people from all over Weymouth enjoying the park.  Having the market on site means that more people can see and enjoy everything it has to offer.”

The farmer’s market will continue its EBT and debit programs in 2016.  These programs, offered in partnership with the Weymouth Food Pantry, allow shoppers to buy food and food products at the market using wooden tokens, or “Market Bucks”.  Market Bucks can be purchased by any shopper with an EBT or debit card at the Market Manager’s table. 

To make the market more affordable for low-income households, shoppers using EBT cards are also given match tokens.  These tokens double a family’s SNAP benefits (formerly Food Stamps) up to an extra $20 a day at the market, allowing families to purchase twice the amount of food than they otherwise could. 

In 2016, match tokens will be offered to all clients of the Weymouth Food Pantry in addition to EBT card carriers.  This expansion of the program is supported by a grant from the Dunkin' Donuts & Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation.

“Because the majority of people who need food assistance in Weymouth are working families who make just a little too much money to qualify for government assistance, we’re expanding the program this year to include all Food Pantry clients.  Fresh fruits and vegetables are important in everyone’s diet, and we’re grateful to Dunkin’ Donuts for understanding that and backing this program financially,” said Food Pantry Director Cas Casados.  Food Pantry clients can register for the program at any pop-up pantry site starting in June.

The Weymouth Farmer’s Market will run every Saturday through October 15th.  The season kick off on June 4th will feature live music by Ramshackle, a Weymouth-based acoustic band and fan favorite of farmer’s markets across the South Shore.  Farm Visits, a traveling petting zoo, will also be on-site with about 20 baby farm animals.  Other activities planned for the kick off include face painting by Art on the Spot of Middleborough and a fitness demonstration by wellness consultant Suzanne Brownell of Heath Thyself, LLC in Weymouth.

For the remainder of the season, live music will be performed every Saturday at the Weymouth Farmer’s Market.  In addition, a free yoga class will be offered every other week, starting June 11th, led by instructor Susan Johnson from Chakra Power Yoga of Braintree.  

For more information about the Weymouth Farmer’s Market, please visit the Town of Weymouth’s website (www.weymouth.ma.us/farmers-market) or contact the Mayor’s Office at (781) 340-5012.  Residents can also follow the market on Facebook and Twitter.