“I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can…”
GEORGE BERNARD SHAW
Listen to people talk about Hingham resident Mark Cullings and you’ll hear descriptions used like “generous,” “kind,” and “devoted.” Ask about his accomplishments, and you’ll learn about how he helped create the town’s Christmas in the Square, being a founding member of the Hingham Education Foundation, or playing an integral role in refurbishing and remodeling the Hingham Heritage Museum. Considering his impact on the town, the man is a bit of a legend.
One of his most enduring legacies is his work as president of the Hingham Farmers’ Market. When his wife, Janice Cullings, died in 2009, Mark focused on growing and developing the market into the thriving organizationit is today. His tireless efforts inspired others. One community member noted, “Mark’s interest was in helping our community thrive. He believed in the health of the farmers’ market, and the community of it.” Mark served as president for over 25 years until his death in August of 2024.
While Mark is an extraordinary example of someone who invested his time and energy into creating a farmers’ market that serves as a valued gathering space for his community, he is far from the only one. Southeastern Massachusetts is fortunate to have many people with similar dedication to bringing people together in their towns.

Hingham Farmers’ Market Memorial for Mark Cullings
Further down Route 3, Plymouth Farmers’ Market manager Dave Purpura has always viewed farmers’ markets as a communal hub and is happy to be a part of it. “Bringing people together around food is sorta my thing.”
The affable owner of Plato’s Harvest in Middleboro is enthusiastic about building community through managing and growing Plymouth’s market. He’s held this role for 10 years, nearly half the time the market has been in operation.
Dave Purpura began as a vendor, quickly becoming more involved in the operations and decision-making. When the opportunity arose, he chose to step up his role. “I’d been involved for a while,” he recalls. “We had a kind of committee that made decisions. When the old manager left, I was in a position to help.” The goal was always to improve an already successful situation. “I wanted to make the market as good as it could be.”
Farmers’ markets have been operating in the United States for centuries, dating back to the 1600s, when European settlers brought the concept of town-center markets with them. One of the first recorded markets in the United States was the Boston market in 1634.
These markets served a crucial role in providing urban residents with fresh produce, meats, eggs, and other products they would otherwise have to acquire in the countryside. As the number of markets grew over time, so did their importance to the community. More and more people used market shopping as a time when they could connect with friends and customers they otherwise wouldn’t easily encounter. This growth encouraged market managers to create additional programming, helping create social environments that extended well past simply shopping.
Today, more than 8,600 farmers’ markets operate throughout the United States. In 2020, Americans spent nearly $1.7 billion on food at these markets and farm stands, accounting for just over 59% of all spending on direct-to-consumer food purchases.
Beyond the positive economic impact, farmers’ markets are a critical source of community food access for many low-income families participating in food assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Massachusetts’ Healthy Incentives Program (HIP). In 2021, more than 572,000 households across the country had made at least one purchase at a farmers’ market through these programs, a 162% increase since 2017.
Lorrie Dahlen, manager of the Marshfield Farmers’ Market, recognizes the role her market plays in bringing nutritious food options to those who need it most. “We have people on SNAP who need their food and they get a great deal,” she comments. Her market offers even more value to those shoppers. “We have a match program that gives them more credit towards farm goods like produce, honey, and meat. It expands what they can get for free.”

Winners of a Marshfield Farmers’ Market/Edible SEMA giveaway.
Brockton Farmers’ Market Manager Jon Van Kuiken also sees the benefits to low-income families. “The market is an important food access point for the Brockton Community,” he writes. “The majority of our customers rely on some sort of food assistance and the market accepts SNAP, HIP, coupons (Senior and WIC), and raises money for a SNAP match program. We also participate in the Summer Eats program so kids and teens can receive a free lunch at the market.” Despite farmers’ markets clearly having a positive impact on their communities, and being deeply loved by those who shop there, not every community is seeing continued success. Some managers are finding it harder to thrive than before.
The cause could involve a shift in the interests of younger consumers and the decline in volunterism. Lorrie Dahlen notes, “For a while, we had a lot of young Junior High and High school kids really excited and participating. That has all gone away.”
It might also be the sheer volume of work involved in a position that is often manned by a volunteer. One manager commented, “I like it, but it’s a lot of work.” Some feel any lack of growth could portend a bleak future. “There are a number of markets in the state that are run by a small group of dedicated volunteers or even just one steady volunteer manager. If something happens to any of them the markets would likely just fade away.”
Fortunately, many markets are still experiencing growth. For those managers, the goal is constant development and evolution through adding new vendors and programs.
Meghan Watts, president of the Pembroke Farmers’ Market, is always looking for ways to expand and diversify what her young market offers. “We hope to expand on the success of our first season by continuing to add a variety of new vendors, which we hope will continue to draw bigger crowds,” she enthusiastically shares. “We also want our community to see the market as a place to go both for food and for a social experience, which means continuing to think about how best to include people from all walks of life.”

Ribbon Cutting Pembroke Farmers’ Market
The future of farmers’ markets may not be crystal clear, but for those dedicated managers of Southeastern Massachusetts, things are looking up. Meghan Watts cheerfully asserts, “I believe farmers’ markets have a bright future as people become more attentive to how and where their food is grown. People are excited to connect to their communities. [They] offer such a unique setting.”
Donna Ingemanson, manager of the Braintree Farmers’ Market, echoes the thought. “Our market only gains in popularity throughout the years. Hopefully, it will continue as a town staple into the future.”

Braintree farmers’ Market_OpeningDay2024(1)Meredith Boericke Braintree Town Councilor, District 5, Braintree Mayor Erin Joyce and Mike Ford, BELD (Braintree Electric Light Dept)
At the Farmers’ Market at Rye Tavern, manager Sam Pike explains the communal virtues of these local hubs. “In a day, one can get back to their roots and remember the importance of locally sourced, hand-made, quality food and art made by the hands of their neighbors. I am happy to see more and more markets popping up, and I see a bright future of expansion and connection within these markets, branching out and enhancing the lives of the communities that surround them.”
Brit Wirth, president of the Attleboro Farmers’ Market, sums it up perfectly. “In our opinion, farmers’ markets are a perfect example of how a local market can become the heartbeat of a community. The loyalty and energy of our patrons and vendors turn each market day into a festival of togetherness, making the market more than just a place to shop —it becomes a vibrant gathering space that strengthens our local bonds.”
Mark Cullings would be proud.
Adam Centamore is a culinary writer and educator on the South Shore. When he’s not sharing the finer points of wine, cheese, and chocolate with everyone, he’s visitiing local farmers’ markets. Reach him on Instagram at @eatdrinklearn.