06-1-2009

2009 Farmers’ Markets are here!

Bike to the marketGet ready for June…

  • Spring spinach, garlic scape and Salty Sea feta omelets
  • Salads of crisp lettuce, spicy arugula, sliced radishes and turnips, chives, and Ida Red storage apples
  • Strawberry rhubarb pies
  • Mint iced tea

Hurrah! This is what June tastes like at a farmers’ markets near you. With each passing day there is something new ripening and a new farmers’ market opening up for the season. Three of our markets open this week, and the two weekend markets are moving to more spacious, tree-covered spots to accomodate new vendors:

A bit of RI farmers’ market trivia:

  • 40 summer farmers’ markets in 2009 vs. 34 last year
  • 19 in Providence County, 13 in South County, 8 in Eastern RI
  • 1 farmers’ market for every 26,000 Rhode Islanders
  • New markets this year in Harmony, Johnston, Middletown, Portsmouth, South Kingstown, Weekapaug
  • 19 farmers’ markets are already open this first week of June, at least one every day of the week. Bon appetit and cheers to a new season!
  • Zip code with the most farmers’ market (4): 02906 Providence
  • Zip code with the most farmers’ market per person (1 per 4,300 people): 02857 Scituate
  • Towns with farmers’ markets and farmstands (19): Barrington, Block Island, Burrillville, Charlestown, Cranston, East Greenwich, East Providence, Johnston, Lincoln, Middletown, North Kingstown, Portsmouth, Richmond, Scituate, South Kingstown, Tiverton, Warwick, Westerly
  • Towns with farmers’ markets but no farmstands (5): Bristol, Newport, Pawtucket, Providence, Woonsocket
  • Towns with no farmers’ markets but with farmstands (12): Coventry, Cumberland, Exeter, Foster, Glocester, Hopkinton, Jamestown, Little Compton, North Smithfield, Smithfield, Warren, West Greenwich
  • Towns with no farmers’ markets or farmstands (3): Central Falls, North Providence, West Warwick