August 5, 2026, Story By Cam Cyr, Photos by the Hingham Farmers Market and Cam Cyr
Fresh produce, homemade baked goods and handcrafted products may draw shoppers to the Hingham Farmers Market each Saturday, but vendors, volunteers and organizers say it’s the sense of community that keeps people coming back.
The Hingham Farmers Market started in 1977 and has grown into one of the longest-running farmers markets in Massachusetts and a Saturday tradition for shoppers across the South Shore. The nonprofit market continues its mission of supporting local farmers, food producers and artisans while creating a gathering place for the community.
The market is home to around 50 vendors who sell a wide variety of products, including seasonal produce from Aeonian Farm and Teal Farm, fresh seafood from Captain Marden’s, baked goods from Kneady Mama and Pain D’Avignon, local honey from New World Apiary and handcrafted goods from CR Woodcraft.
The Hingham Farmers Market is joining markets across the country in celebrating National Farmers Market Week, which runs from Aug. 2-8. The annual celebration recognizes the important role farmers markets play in supporting local agriculture, strengthening communities and increasing access to fresh food.
Last Saturday, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner Ashley Randle visited the market to read a governor’s proclamation recognizing National Farmers Market Week before touring the vendors.
The celebration will continue on Aug. 8 with family-friendly activities, including scavenger hunts, word searches and flower pot planting for children, along with a town proclamation recognizing National Farmers Market Week.
“What makes this farmers market unique is the sense of community it provides to both vendors and shoppers,” said Hingham Farmers Market President Beverley Vernon. “It is a gathering place on the South Shore, drawing shoppers from towns throughout the area.”
That mission has been shaped by the legacy of longtime Hingham Farmers Market President and founder of the market Mark Cullings, who passed away in 2024. Vernon, who succeeded Cullings as president, said his influence continues to guide the organization.
“The suddenness of his passing is still hard for everybody here,” Vernon said. “He brought a sense of connection to the town and to other farmers markets, and brought good practices to this market that we continue to this day.”
While Cullings was instrumental in building the market, Vernon said the organization has continued to grow by sharing responsibilities across its board and volunteers.
“He was such a sole source and point of focus for all of this, that he carried the weight of a lot of work that is now carried by many more people,” Vernon said.
The market’s community focus extends beyond its vendors. Each week, it hosts a free Community Table for nonprofit organizations, promotes local events through its newsletter and social media, and partners with organizations including the Hingham Historical Society and Downtown Association.
The market also continues to support local farmers, bakers and artisans, with several businesses growing from home-based operations into commercial ventures. Keeping the market running each week is a team effort powered largely by volunteers.
“We couldn’t operate without the volunteers,” Market Manager Mike Anderson said. “From the setup to breakdown, answering questions, managing SNAP and guiding customers, all is done by the volunteers.”
One of the market’s signature initiatives is its SNAP matching program, which helps make fresh local food more accessible by providing shoppers using SNAP benefits with an additional $20 to spend through sponsor support.
“The consistent support of the Fruit Center and Hingham Institution for Savings is vital to the continued success of the market,” Vernon said.
Board member and social media coordinator Linda Fechter says that a welcoming atmosphere is built through everyday interactions among vendors.
“Vendors here collaborate on products, cross-promote each other and show up for one another in celebration, in hardship, in illness and loss,” Fechter said. “Calling us a ‘family’ isn’t just a nice phrase; you can feel it the moment you arrive on Saturday morning.”
Anderson said the relationships between vendors and customers are what make the market stand out.
“The vendors know their customers, they are friends and they are family,” Anderson said. “Every week we see the same families restocking their kitchens from our local growers, bakers, and makers. Families have grown up coming to this market.”
For many vendors, the market becomes more than just a place to sell their products.
“The market gave me a sense of community that you didn’t know you needed,” said Alyssa Gargano, owner of Kneady Mama, a sourdough bakery. “You don’t feel like you’re working when you’re here because you get to meet so many great people.”
For vendors like Aeonian Farm, that connection extends beyond the market itself.
“The community is really nice, I mean everyone is so supportive, you can tell that people really care to shop local,” said Kate Getz of Aeonian Farm. “People in Hingham are super hearty, coming in snowstorms, hurricanes and 100-degree weather. If we are here, someone will come.”
Fechter said the welcoming atmosphere is just as evident among shoppers as it is among vendors.
“Our winters at Wompatuck market are proof. Snow, wind and rain don’t stop people from bundling up to shop locally,” she said. “They care about what they eat, they care about the planet, and they care about this community as much as we do.”