Andover Farmers Market (AFM) opens its 19th Season Saturday, 6/21!

Andover Farmers Market (AFM) opens its 19th Season in the Andover Town Green (Park) near the Town Offices on June 21st. The temporary location change is due to several construction projects that are ongoing at South Church.

The location switch has been a challenge for the AFM team, especially with no nearby storage. The team is grateful to the Town of Andover for its support and several local friends who are donating space in their garages to store equipment.

The producer-only market continues to grow, and the 2025 season will surpass last year’s record number of vendors and community partners. The market also has a large number of sponsors this season, including VAIN Medi Spa, the market’s first Transformer Sponsor. Sponsors enable AFM to both offer more programming and increase its reach. The market will feature more ready-to-eat food this season, aligning with AFM’s goal to have the market serve as a place to build community in the area. Organizers hope everyone will come to shop, eat, hang out, and enjoy activities, including weekly yoga classes taught by HOME Yoga and live music organized by the Merrimack Valley Community Music School.

AFM will continue to include weekly children’s activities, ranging from activities coordinated by Community Partner Sidney’s Rainbows to children’s music and story hours to the Power of Produce (POP) Club, which will take place every week, following a successful pilot in 2024. POP has two main activities. First, children can register and receive $3 in weekly tokens to purchase their own fruits and vegetables from AFM farmers. Second, most weeks will feature specific activities aligned with the Power of Produce.

Of course, the main feature of the market will continue to be the weekly array of 30 – 40+ farms, food producers, and artisans, all of whom grow or make their products. You will find locally grown produce, fresh cut flowers, sustainably caught fish and meat, eggs, and baked goods every week. This season will include dairy and fermented foods, coffee and/or matcha every week, and ready to eat items including pizza, Indian specialties, and fresh salads and wraps. The market will also continue to have a theme each week, allowing organizers and vendors to celebrate everything from pollinators to fitness to two dog-themed markets highlighting local rescues.

AFM actively seeks to help decrease food insecurity. As a federally licensed farmers market, SNAP recipients can buy any eligible food at the market. To increase purchasing power for shoppers using SNAP at the market, AFM doubles shopper’s SNAP dollars up to $25/week, giving people $50 to buy eligible food when they spend $25. SNAP recipients can stop by the Information Table at the entrance. Other nutrition benefits supported by various vendors at the market include WIC, Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, and HIP (Massachusetts’ Healthy Incentive Program). AFM will also continue to collect food weekly to donate to the Village Food Hub which operates the 24-hour food pantry in Ballardvale and supports other efforts across the Merrimack Valley.

To learn more about the vendors, community partners, music, and schedule go to AndoverFarmersMarket.com or the market’s Facebook and Instagram sites.

The market will take place this season in the parking lot between the Town Offices and the Park at 34 Bartlet Street, Andover. It runs every Saturday rain or shine, from 9:00 am-1:00 pm, through October 18th.