by Terry Vandewater

Snuggle UP TO THE FIRE, pour a local libation, and catch up on the latest locavore news in Southeastern Massachusetts. By the time you’re done, you’ll have a whole lot more on your to do list.

Brew News…

Red Hand Brewery may really be the king of beers. Named after the Donnelly family crest and origin story, Red Hand has opened in Lakeville. With family experience in the pub and libations arenas, the brewery offers 24 predominantly New England local beers, including their own, on tap. Lawless Foods food truck will be on site with a weekly-changing menu. Games, live music, and more are also on tap at Red Hand.

A new local children’s book has hit the stands, or your iPad, that focuses on an eSEMA-land’s fan favorite. Farmer Eva’s Green Garden Life is authored byJacqueline Briggs Martin and illustrated by Christy Hale. Th e book focuses on the life and times of Eva Sommaripa, founder of Eva’s Garden in South Dartmouth. Specifi c focus is on Eva as a female farmer and how her garden evolved over time. Eva even writes the afterword on the book. Nice to see/read her story—a hero in our midst.

Let’s give a round of applause to the Attleboro Farmers’ Market on their receiving a citation from the House of Representatives in “Recognition of Another Successful Year of dedication to supporting and uplifting local farmers, service organizations, and community collaboration.” AFM is incredibly grateful for the community’s loyalty and commitment and believes that the market is a “one-of-a-kind hub that brings us all together.”

Good Deeds—When Hurricane Helene slammed into North Carolina, people and organizations around the country rallied around the weather-shredded area to offer assistance. Easton’s Simpson Springs, with the help of its customers, donated a truckload of 5-gallon water jugs for day care centers and other schools with the remainder going to rural areas in the state. Well done!

There’s a new bakery in town. Adding to their online ordering and farmers’ markets, the family-owned Farmhouse Baking Co. now has a storefront and bakery at 936 Hingham Street in Rockland. Known for their tasty and unique French macarons, the smallbatch bakery also offers whoopie pies and truffles, as well as savories like Chicken Pot Pie and Shepherd’s Pie. Order a savory and finish it off with a sweet. Sweet!

Want to learn a little Portuguese? Cooking, that is. At My Portuguese Table: Azorean Cooking and More, by Maria Lawton is her follow-up a decade later to Azorean Cooking: From My Family Table to Yours. Immigrating to New Bedford from the Azores when she was six, Maria shares her love of her native land’s foods and traditions in this enjoyable cookbook. As an eSEMA contributor, we congratulate Maria on her latest publishing accomplishment—we can’t wait to try her new shared recipes.

bee Hive yourself this WINTER!

Ring the Bell—Bell’s Seasoning has been saved. When its former owners, Brady Enterprises, went out of business, three entrepreneurial fans decided to buy Bell’s and create Bell’s Seasoning LLC. The seasoning played such a huge role in the new owners’ lives,  they want to ensure that stuffing and other dishes made with Bell’s grace holiday tables for years to come. While Bell’s stuffing may be hard to find for the holidays, its other products, like its seasoning, can help tide you over this holiday season. Stuffing production is expected to ramp up in 2025, giving you an excuse to have turkey and stuffing more than once a year.

New Laws… not Blue Laws are giving local breweries a boost at farmers’ markers. It took six years, but over 230 breweries across the state can now sell their craft beers at farmers’ markets. This benefits all involved, starting with the farmers who help grow the crops to the brewer and ultimately the end-user—You! The local brews are now on an even playing field with wines and cider producers. Those in the craft beer industry are elated to have another revenue stream and in such a community-connected environment.

Hop-Hop Hurray!

Not Hip at all. On December 1, 2024, the Commonwealth’s Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) reduced its monthly allocation for fresh produce to the food-insecure due to a funding shortfall for the program. Instead of a $40 to $80/monthly allocation depending on family size, the state (Dept. of Transitional Assistance [DTA] and Mass. Dept. of Agricultural Resources [MDAR]) says a flat $20/monthly rate regardless of family size was the only viable option if HIP is to continue. This reduction is a huge blow to families, as well as farmers and farmers’ markets who rely on HIP. Reach out to your local legislator or check out this link to get HIP on the supplemental budget request. HIP is a nationally recognized model. ww.MassFarmersMarkets.org/news/save-hip