All About our Farmers Market
If you've ever visited the Farm on a Saturday morning, we're sure you've seen our Farmers Market. Our weekly, year-round market utilizes the South Pasture in the summer and moves into the Barn once colder months arrive. On any given week, you can find fresh, seasonal vegetables grown within ten miles of Mount Hope Farm, as well as sourdough bread, grass-fed beef, an array of sweet treats, pasta sauces, hummus, and much more. The market isn't just a place to buy food; it's a vibrant community gathering spot. Here, you'll enjoy live music, children’s activities, nonprofit pop-ups, and a wonderful camaraderie as you get to know the people who grow and make your food.
What many might not know is that the market also supports our community members who receive SNAP and EBT benefits. Thanks to our long-standing partnership with Farm Fresh Rhode Island, we access their Fresh Bucks program. This initiative allows recipients to double their SNAP dollars at the market. For every dollar they spend, they receive an additional dollar to use for fresh fruits and vegetables. This is a true win-win! Customers gain access to fresh, locally grown food—which can sometimes be challenging with SNAP—and more money goes directly back to our farmers, strengthening our local economy. Last year, this program generated $20,000 in sales for our farmers. For a smaller market in a suburban area, this is a significant number, and we hope it continues to grow.
Last year, the farm received a LASA grant to help expand the reach of the Fresh Bucks program. This grant enabled the market to rebrand, create informational materials in English, Spanish, and Portuguese for distribution to food pantries and food distribution sites in the East Bay, develop online marketing advertisements, and host a series of cooking demonstrations focused on easy, low-cost meals using ingredients from our vendors. The farm partnered with The Nuñez Group, a local digital marketing agency that has assisted numerous nonprofits in Rhode Island, including The United Way and various Health Equity Zones. Ray and his team created a fun and inviting branding kit that we now use across all our marketing efforts. Stop by the market table to grab a sticker or a lawn sign and show your love for the market!
In these times, it's more important than ever to continue supporting our local businesses and find community spots that can bring joy and peace to our stressful lives. We hope you'll come visit the market. You can learn about our current vendors and upcoming events here. If you're interested in learning more about our LASA grant, you can see the full project outline here.