The Regional Environmental Council (REC) has launched its 2025 summer farmers market season with a goal of expanding access to fresh, locally sourced produce for communities across Worcester, Southbridge and Webster. The REC was at Wednesday's Out To Lunch event on Worcester Common. The organization also has fourteen other farmers market locations, a mobile farmers market and two community markets at Beaver Brook Park and University Park in Worcester in an effort to ensure accessibility for everyone. The REC says all of their markets accept cash, credit/debit, SNAP, the Healthy Incentives Program and WIC as well as senior farmers market coupons. Ashley Carter, the farmers market program coordinator says getting good, fresh food to people who need it most is key. "It's important because transportation, as we know, is not a perfect system. A lot of people are housebound. A lot of folks are struggling with mobility issues. So it's really important when you go out into the different communities and bring the produce to them. Farmers don't alway have time so us being the middle person really helps unify customers with farmers."

Community farmers markets at Beaver Brook Park and University Park in Worcester open Friday, June 20th and Saturday, June 21st respectively. The mobile farmers market returns to Webster and Southbridge on Tuesday, June 24th.