Belmont Farmers Market Opens 20th Season, Cites $57,000 in Food Aid Last Year

BELMONT — June 5, 2025 — Belmont Farmers Market celebrates 20th season with a record $57,000 in food assistance distributed in 2024. Hal Shubin, chair of the Farmers Market Committee, presided over opening day June 5 alongside founder Heli Tomford and Belmont Food Collaborative President Suzanne Joannet, who reported that the market's SNAP, HIP, and Farmers Market Nutrition Program matching funds totaled $57,000 last year and $152,491 since 2011. Select Board member Taylor Yates called the market "a destination for families from around the region" because of the generosity of its matching programs. Volunteers also announced a new HIP Plus program — offering $20 per month in blue tokens — to offset a state reduction that cut the Healthy Incentives Program benefit to $20 per family regardless of household size. State Senator Will Brownsberger and Representative Dave Rogers both attended; Brownsberger is the primary sponsor of the market's Pop Club kids program.