Newton Farmers’ Market Pops Up To Host Special Thanksgiving Event

NEWTON, MA — As Thanksgiving gets ever close, the Newton Community Farmer's Market is trying something new this year: It's setting up shop in the War Memorial Tuesday in an effort to make it a bit easier to plan for dinner, and to do a little community service ahead of the holiday.

“Our goal in putting together this market is three-fold,” said organizer Lauren Berman in a statement. “To lend a hand to neighbors at risk of hunger this holiday season; provide a fun, festive food event for the Newton community; and support our local farms and small vendors.”

In 40 years of hosting farmers markets, this is a first time the farmers' market has held a special market just for Thanksgiving, Berman told Patch. The last market of this season was Oct. 22.

On Tuesday, Nov. 26, the market is popping up at city hall so folks can pick up or shop for Thanksgiving feast items. More than a dozen local farms and specialty vendors will be there from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. with fresh produce, artisanal cheeses, pies, craft chocolates, knife-sharpening, hostess gifts and pasture-raised turkeys.

Got your shopping done already, but have no idea what to eat leading up to Thanksgiving? The market will also have takeout food to feed you. Most of the farmers’ market vendors are offering discounts for pre-orders.

“Some items, like Copicut Farms’ turkeys, and cheeses from the Seacoast Cheese Maven, should be pre-ordered right away, because there’s limited quantity and high demand,” said Lauren Berman, the event organizer. “With pre-ordering you can shop from home and then swing in and pick up your purchases.”

Dick’s Market Gardens, known for its vast variety of local produce, is offering “you-fill” farm boxes. Pay just $25 and fill up a large ¾ bushel box (a free, sturdy farm bag) with your choice of fruits and vegetables, according to the organizer.

Other vendors, like Belmont-based Tick Tock Chocolates, find pre-orders helpful for production planning, but will bring extra products to the market for on-site shopping.

The Thanksgiving market, sponsored by the Newton Farmers’ Market and The Village Bank, is a fundraiser for the Newton Food Pantry and supports local food-aid organization Community Servings.

There's typically a fee that vendor has to pay to participate in the market to help defray organizational cost, but that fee will be donated to the Newton Food Pantry, according to Berman.

The market is a pie pick up site for Community Servings’ Pie in the Sky fundraiser. The Thanksgiving Farmers’ Market will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Newton City Hall’s War Memorial. HIP accepted by Dick’s Market Garden.

For more info check out the calendar info:Thanksgiving Farmers' Market

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).