Needham Farmers Market opens second season Sunday, June 2!

Chef in House program to begin June 9

After an incredibly successful first year, the Needham Farmers Market returns for the 2013 season on Sunday, June 2 at First Parish Church on Dedham Avenue between Lincoln Street and Great Plain Avenue.

The opening day festivities will include opening ceremonies at 3 p.m. with local officials and sponsors. The farmers will have a variety of fresh greens, tomatoes, herb starts, and flowers. There will be lots of seedlings ready for the garden including 50 varieties of tomato plants from The Neighborhood Farm to get gardeners started on their own gardens.

Come and fill your kitchen with great locally produced food, direct from the people who produce it! Vendors for the first week include the MacArthur Farm, The Neighborhood Farm, Big Sky Bakery, Globe Fish, Lilac Hedge, Foxboro Cheese, Nella Pasta and Two Brothers Cookies. 

Local artist Donna DeMaria will showcase her work, The Farmers Market Jazz Band will also be on hand on opening day, and the YMCA and the Needham Community Farms will be the visiting non-profit organizations.

The Needham Farmers Market is also excited for its new Chef in the House program. Each week, starting on June 9, a local chef will visit the market and talk to small groups of strolling tours from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. for 10-15 minutes each. Later in the summer, these chefs will be preparing items in their own restaurants using fresh local ingredients. 

Chef Dave Becker from Sweet Basil will be our debut Chef in House on June 9, and Chef Gabriel Luz of The Farmhouse will join us on June 16.

Look for the “Chef Banner” at the Managers Tent, then scan the QR image (at right) with your smartphone to learn more.

The Needham Farmers Market opens at 1 p.m. and closes at 5 p.m. Location is the front lawn of First Parish Church in Needham, 23 Dedham Avenue, Needham Center. Plenty of free parking is available at public lots behind First Parish and off Dedham Avenue near the Market.