Farmer's Market to Set up at Rt. 128 Rest Stop This Summer

The state Department of Transportation will set up a farmer's market at the Route 128 rest area in Beverly this summer.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is offering free space to farmers on a first-come, first-served basis.

In all, 18 “service plazas” are taking part in the program, including 11 plazas along the Massachusetts Turnpike and seven others across the state, including several along Route 128, including the rest area on the northbound side of Route 128 in Beverly, between exits 19 and 18.

The season will start on Friday out at the Charlton service plazas on the Pike from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The state DOT said that it has sent letters to more than 100 Massachusetts farmers inviting them to sell their goods and produce at the markets. Farmers may sell their goods as long as they do not compete with the businesses that operate within the service plazas, according to the DOT.

MassDOT will set up “on-the-road promotion” of the market on highway message boards for driver’s approaching the rest area.

Local farmers that want to participate should contact program coordinator Dave Fenton at dave.fenton@state.ma.us or at 413-572-3171.