New Hampshire is known as the Granite State for its formidable presence of granite formations and quarries; however, farming looms large in this New England state, too. A 2023 report from the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food said that the state has around 4,100 commercial farms — a pretty good ratio considering that the state’s population is around 1.4 million.
New Hampshirites also have an appreciation for their loyal farm communities. A 2017 survey conducted by the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension revealed that about 84% of the interviewed residents stated that they frequented local farmers markets.
Milford Farmers Market of NH
The Milford Farmers Market of NH is one of the state’s more established farmers markets, having been established more than 45 years ago. Located in southeastern New Hampshire, Milford’s marketplace operates nearly all year round.
The outdoor operation (300 Elm St.) is open every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. starting in June and going until mid-October. It typically has 20+ vendors selling seasonal vegetables and fruit, grass-fed beef, fresh-caught fish, dairy products, and other items. One of these vendors, Tom Mitchell of Ledge Top Farms, actually was one of the co-founders of the market.
Photo Courtesy Milford Farmers Market
The indoor winter market was launched over a dozen years ago.
Held every other Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. inside Milford’s Town Hall Auditorium (1 Union Square), it typically is open from the beginning of December through early March.
There frequently were 25 participating vendors, an all-time peak for the winter market. The Milford Farmers Markets have been named the Best Farmers Market in the Greater-Merrimack Souhegan Valley and ranked as one of the top operations in a readers poll by the NH Weekly, the Hippo.
Candia Farmers Market
Another farmers market that has found favor among the Hippo’s readers is one of New Hampshire’s youngest — the Candia Farmers Market (55 High St.). Founded in 2021, Candia was not only honored as one of the best farmers markets in the Hippo’s Reader Poll, but also named the top Farmers Market in 2023 by the New Hampshire Union Leader. This honor is quite an accomplishment for an operation that has only been around for a few years and one that only operates on the third Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to noon from June through October.
Candia, situated northeast of New Hampshire’s largest city, Manchester, aims to “provide nutritional, environmental experience of buying local, sustainably produced farm products” and create “a sense of community and social gathering.” The market regularly features live music, kids activities, contests, demonstrations, and farm animal encounters. It also hosts special events, such as a Christmas in July Artisan Fair and an Artisan Fair & Mini-Octoberfest.
Photo Courtesy Candia Farmers Market
Tamworth Farmers Market
The picturesque town of Tamworth is nestled at the base of the White Mountains. It might be most associated with Mount Chocorua, which has been proclaimed one of the most photographed mountains in the world. Tamworth should also be known for its farmers market; it is outdoors during its summer and winter incarnations (it only takes a “spring break” in April), which has to be a rarity in New Hampshire’s Lake Region, let alone the state at large.
The market does make some allowances for the seasons. While the summer operation runs from May to October and is held from 9 a.m. to noon, the winter one opens from November to March at 10 a.m.
Also, when the winter weather gets especially treacherous, the location shifts from the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship’s parking lot (30 Tamworth Road) to a spot behind the Town Offices (84 Main St.).
Tamworth generally features around 25 vendors, including local farmers, bakers, artisans, and fisherpeople. It is also involved in an innovative New Hampshire program called Granite State Market Match, which doubles Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for produce at participating farmers markets, farm stands, and Community Supported Agriculture programs and can be used in conjunction with Double Up Food Bucks, too.
Photo Courtesy Tamworth Farmers Market
Derry Homegrown Farm & Artisan Market
Derry, a town situated between Manchester and Nashua, is in a historic farming region. The first permanent potato patches in America were planted in 1719 on land near what is now the town of Derry. The history of the Derry Homegrown Farm & Artisan Market (DHFAM) on 1 West Broadway only goes back to 2017, but it quickly became a vital presence in Rockingham County, New Hampshire.
Photo Courtesy Derry Homegrown
DHFAM is a midweek tradition, occurring on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. from the beginning of June through September. Run by a volunteer board of directors, the market envisions itself as a “long-term sustainable marketplace for Derry and surrounding communities … [that strives] to educate the community on the many benefits of eating and buying locally.”
Derry certainly has been hailed for its good work. DHFAM was the Yankee Magazine’s “Editor’s Choice” for best New Hampshire Farmers Market in 2019 and made the Hippo’s Reader Poll list of best NH Farmers Markets in 2023 and 2024.
