The Lowell Farmers’ Market has kicked off its 2023 season and is located in the Impact Church parking lot on Fulton Street.
A longtime Lowell tradition, the market features seasonal vegetables, fruits, flowers and plants, syrup, honey, baked goods, and crafts.
Returning area farmers and artisans include The Red Poppy, Starlight Farms, and Mike’s Pure Maple Syrup. Vendors new to the market this year are Better Place Farms, Heffron Farms Market, and Mad Scientist Mushrooms.
Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Shannon Kennedy said about a dozen vendors are participating this year, though that number changes each week.
“Vendors have the flexibility to pick and choose their weeks, based on their harvest or schedule,” she says. “We encourage shoppers to stop back often as you never know what you’ll find.”
Kennedy said any local farmer, producer, or artisan is invited to participate. Nonprofits and commercial vendors are also welcome. The most popular items are generally the ones that are currently in-season.
“I believe people are trained to look for the items they know to be in season,” Kennedy says. “For example, people don’t really show up looking for sweet corn in mid-June. They’ll come back for that later in the season. Early in the season, look for honey, syrup, eggs, jams and jelly, baked goods, and more.”
The Farmers’ Market has been held in the Impact Church parking lot for two years, according to Kennedy. In past years, it has been held in downtown Lowell, at the former fairgrounds, and other parking lots west of the Main Street light.
Kennedy says each location brings its own opportunities. “The benefits of being at Impact include increased visibility on a high-traffic road, improved parking and accessibility, and catching people when they’re already on their way to do some grocery shopping,” she explains.
According to Kennedy’s records, the market began in 2006. The Chamber acts in the “market master” role, helping to facilitate set-up each week.
Applications for market participation are available starting in February each year on the Chamber’s website. Participants are welcome to apply as a vendor any time throughout the season, which runs through September. Vendors pay a nominal fee of $15 per stall to participate.
Applications and market guidelines can be found on the Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce website. Shoppers can stop by the Impact Church parking lot each Thursday through Sept. 14 from 10am-3pm to see what’s available for sale.
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