Waltham Farmers’ Market To Close For 2022 Season

WALTHAM, MA — The Waltham Farmers’ Market (WFM) will host its final market of the season on Saturday, Oct. 29 after 22 weeks of business.

Founded in 1991, this year marked the market’s 32nd season and featured both new and returning vendors and weekly live music performed by local acts.

"The Organizers are proud that we continue to uphold the mission set forth in 1991: we provided access to healthy, fresh affordable food for the Waltham community; we supported local producers and small farms; we provided a community gathering space; and we were an enhancement to downtown Waltham,” WFM organizers said in a statement. "The WFM is also proud of being a good neighbor, we’ve publicly supported the library, museums, cultural events, other Waltham-based non-profits and hosted various community causes throughout the season,” they added.

WFM said the biggest accomplishment of the year has been the continuation of the SNAP Match program, which enables EBT cardholders to receive up to an additional $10/week to spend on food. By the end of the weekend, the market will have distributed $19,000 over this year’s 22-week season and helped about 86 families each week.

One-third of that support comes from donors including Waltham Rotary Club, Waltham Savings Bank, the Jones Fund from First Parish Church, Farm Credit East, the Phantom Gourmet, and a few private donors, organizers said. However, the rest of the funds, or a deficit of $13,000, will have to come from a reserve fund from the Waltham Farmers’ Market.

"As much as we dislike having to raid the 'rainy-day' pot, the idea of putting a halt to the SNAP Match is a path no one wants to take,” WFM said. "So once again, we are asking those who are able to please help those in-need—those living in a world of food insecurity. You might not be able to give someone a job, and you might not be able to pay someone’s rent, but chances are you can throw in $10 to put food on a family’s table.”

"Again, we are very grateful to our shoppers and vendors, here’s wishing you and yours healthy days ahead,”organizers added.

Online donations to WFM can be made here or checks can be mailed to Waltham Farmers' Market, P.O. Box 541161, Waltham, MA 02454.