E-Mail This Article to a Friend To market, to market Come summertime, local farmers’ markets offer an alternative to indoor grocery stores BY NINA MACLAUGHLIN

Harvest season has begun. For the rest of the summer and into the fall, farmers’ markets set up their stands across the state, offering tables laden with peaches and melons, beets, berries, and loaves of fresh-baked bread, red radishes and rhubarb, corn on the cob and sweet potatoes. Instead of shoving a cart up and down aisles under the buzzing fluorescent lights of your local supermarket — where most of the produce has been shipped from across the world — why not stroll around open-air markets to load up on fresh fruits and veggies from nearby farms? There are about 100 farmers’ markets in Massachusetts, and you don’t have to venture out to the country to find them.

When you shop at farmers’ markets, not only are you supporting local family farms, you’re getting the freshest produce possible. "The quality is going to be above and beyond what you find in a grocery store," says Michelle Katz, of the Federation of Massachusetts Farmers’ Markets. As for the price you pay for farm freshness, "some items are cheaper than the supermarket, and some aren’t," says Katz. But the extra dimes are worth it. With every crate of corn or box of blueberries you buy, you’re helping to ensure that these farms exist in the future.

The Central Square farmers’ market, tucked behind the Harvest Co-op in Cambridge, has been around for years. As at most of the markets, much of the produce here is organic, and even if it’s not, the farmers often use integrated pest management, a limited system of pesticide treatment. Breadsong Bakery and Hi-Rise Bread Company set up shop, plus vendors selling soap and plants. And occasionally there’s live music to accompany your sweet-pea and spinach selection.

The Davis Square market is bigger this season, with an average of 13 vendors every week. "This is truly the everything market," says Katz. "It’s the oodles-and-oodles-of-stuff market." Besides a range of produce, from asparagus to squash, you can find cow cheese, goat cheese, two bakery tables, beef from River Rock Farm ("The best-tasting meat I’ve had in my entire life," says Katz), plus flowers both dried and fresh. Consistent with the Davis Square locale, there’s a community feel to this market, and a casual, cooperative spirit.

Downtown, the Copley Square market has a waiting list of potential vendors. "It’s one of our more-popular markets," says Katz, "and everyone wants to get into it." Like some of the others, Copley Square has produce, baked goods, and soaps. Katz mentions programs throughout New England that teach immigrant farmers how to farm around here. As a result, new farmers now provide new crops, especially Asian vegetables.

Organic produce is the City Hall market’s specialty, as well as a range of products including baked goods from Five Loaves Bakery, melons, berries, fudge, herbal products, relishes, wreathes, and herbs. There’s a much smaller market in Mission Hill that features mostly veggies. The Children’s Museum boasts another, as do Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, and South Boston. For a complete list, plus information on farmers’ markets, check out www.massfarmersmarkets.org, or call (781) 983-9222.

Where to find them:

• Central Square farmers’ market, parking lot at Bishop Allen Drive and Norfolk Street behind the Harvest Co-op, Cambridge. Open on Mondays from noon to 6 p.m.

• Children’s Museum farmers’ market, Congress Street, Boston. Open on Tuesdays from 4 to 7 p.m., through October.

• City Hall farmers’ market, City Hall Plaza along Cambridge Street, Boston. Open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., through November 24.

• Copley Square farmers’ market, along St. James Avenue in front of Trinity Church, Boston. Open on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., through November 23.

• Davis Square farmers’ market, Day and Herbert Streets across from the bowling alley, Somerville. Open on Wednesdays from noon to 6 p.m.

• Jamaica Plain farmers’ market, FleetBank parking lot, Centre Street, Jamaica Plain. Open on Tuesdays from noon to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m., through October.

• Mission Hill farmers’ market, Brigham Circle at Huntington Avenue and Tremont Street, Boston. Open on Thursdays from noon to 6 p.m., through October.

• Roslindale farmers’ market, MBTA commuter-rail lot, Belgrade Avenue, Roslindale. Open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., through October.