Why do Boston area farmer's markets suck?

Question

I saw a blurb this morning that Massachusetts wine will finally be allowed to be sold at farmer's markets in Massachusetts. Of course, they have to get a liquor license (impossible!) and card everyone who tastes (because of all the 18 year olds that have been known to frequent farmers markets to get drunk off of a 1 oz sample of wine. Oh joy. 

This got me thinking, why do our farmer's markets suck so much?

Here are my gripes:

1) They don't have much variety. While not every market can be like the one in Union Square (NYC), I've been to farmer's markets all over, including places like Cleveland and Schenectady that blow anything in the Boston area out of the water. You can find multiple vendors with meats, cheeses, breads, pastas, herbs, ice cream, honey, jarred/pickled food, etc. 
2) There aren’t many open on the weekends. 
3) They are only seasonal. If there was more variety, they could stay open through the winter. 

Maybe I’m just not going to the right ones. (Admittedly, I haven’t been to the South End Open Market, but doing anything in the south end that requires parking is a huge inconvenience to those who aren’t nearby) Maybe it’s because the area has so many farms in the community. But it would be great to see a large one open somewhere on the weekends with 30-40+ stalls.

Answer

I have to agree, not a lot of farmers markets in the Boston area and definitely not on the wknds. I did read there is some indoor farmer's market being constructed somewhere near Downtown Crossing/chinatown (don't quote me).

Answer

MA has literally dozens of small markets geographically distributed all over the place which I think is amazing.

The breadth of some of the ones you refer to would be delightful, but to live essentially anywhere in MA and have SEVERAL markets a week within 10-15 minutes away almost anywhere in the state is pretty amazing and unparalleled:

http://www.massfarmersmarkets.org/FMFM_Main.aspx

That said, the focus really is on seasonal fruit and veg, period, which works for me. The Hmong farmers which are at many stands have the most amazing Asian veggies I have ever seen anywhere, including Union Sq. NYC, which is paramount for me. I love veg.

Go to either the Brookline or Newton Markets to see the very best, but again mostly fruit and veg with some cheese, wild mushrooms, fish, and meat thrown in for good measure. Again not 30 vendors, and mostly fruit and veg.

With regard to alcohol, just be happy we don' have SC liquor laws or worse...

Answer

I agree with bella_sarda, it depends what you are looking for in a Farmer's Market. 

Me, I go on Wednesday and Saturday, to Davis Square and Union Square (because these are ones I can walk to) and get my fruits, vegetables and herbs for the week. There are plenty of small markets that carry pasta, honey, jarred food, etc in my area (and beyond) so I don't feel a need to have a separate stall for them at the Farmers Market.

Answer

When I lived in Ithaca, NY, I got used to the style of farmer's market that the OP is talking about: a big structure with many, many stalls, typically open weekends and maybe one weekday, with a mix of fruit/veg, prepared foods (including lunch food), and crafts. But even though no single market in the Boston area has the diversity by itself of a central market, the aggregate total of vendors across the famer's markets I frequent in the Boston area (Davis Square, Union Square, Harvard Square, Dewey Square, Kendall Square with varying degrees of regularity) is probably on par with what I was used to in Ithaca (and this is despite upstate New York being some of the best agricultural lands in the Northeast). It is true there isn't much in the way of prepared goods (although Taza chocolate, Narragansett Creamery, and Fiore di Nonna go to many markets, many farms sell honey and jams of various kinds, and most farmer's markets have at least one meat vendor, often more), but there are tons of places to get that kind of thing around here, so why use up limited space at the farmer's market for those kinds of goods?

It sounds like what the OP wants is not a farmer's market, but a central public market (like the central markets in cities like Barcelona, Seattle, San Francisco, etc). It is true that Boston does not have this, although there is a group trying to bring a central public market back to Boston: http://www.bostonpublicmarket.org/

Answer

One other note, I just don't know that many farms making artisanal cheeses, charcuterie, etc in MA period. We are a relatively small state compare to NY, etc. etc.

Answer

I frequent the farmer's market on Natick common, which is on Saturday mornings, I believe 9-1. They seem to have some of the items mentioned by the OP, and I always see the Hmong farmer, and someone, I believe from Foxborough, with cheese. Keown Orchards and Tangerini's farm always seem to be there with a good variety and good quality. Parking isn't too bad usually. It's not that far from the city; right at the junction of 135 and 27, not far from Rt. 9

Answer

Love my Quincy farmer's market on Fridays. I get so much there that I rarely need to hit the grocery store/TJs. Everything from fruit and veg, eggs, honey, lobsters, baked goods, wild mushrooms, felafel and other Middle Eastern treats (although I stay true to Felafel King down the street or wonderful Fordeees when I'm in that neck of the woods), the occasional jams or preserves, great bread, all sorts of good stuff. 

If it were bigger--like the above mentioned public markets-- sure I would love it, but I would buy waaaay too much stuff. I over-buy as it is and struggle (happily) to finish what I have in- house before going again each Friday. I don't think that sucks :)

Answer

Non-local products are certainly allowed in our farmers' markets. I bought some honey from a VT apiary at the JP market recently.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

Answer

Personally, I love my little local (Belmont) farmers market. I am much more likely to show up to a market that is less than 5 minutes from my house for a few stalls than go to a central market with lots of stuff that is not as convenient. When I lived in Philadelphia, I would walk to the italian market on a weekly basis for a more comprehensive style market, but honestly prefer the smaller, less crowded format. It was fun looking at the skinned rabbits and half lambs in the window, but if I actually want something like that, I can always drive to a specialty retailer. Put my vote in for convenience over variety.

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Why do Boston area farmer's markets suck?

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