The Beach Times
Places to Buy Fresh Produce in Dennis, MA
Posted by Kinlin Grover | Wednesday, January 20, 2021
One of the best things about booking a vacation rental on Cape Cod is that it allows you to cook. Sure, you'll likely want to check out the local dining scene, but there's something therapeutic about heading to a market and picking up whatever you need for dinner that night.
In Dennis, buying produce could involve stopping by a local farm, as there are a few of them in town that are open to the public.
These farms carry whatever is in season at that particular time, ensuring you're buying the freshest fruit and vegetables available anywhere.
Here's a look at some of the farms you'll find on your vacation in Dennis, Massachusetts.
Hokum Rock Blueberry Farm
Whether you're looking for breakfast or dessert, Hokum Rock Blueberry Farm should be on your list of farms to check out. Here, you can pick blueberries from the on-site fields or buy a pint or two of pre-picked berries from their roadside stand.
The farm enjoys a convenient location on East-West Dennis Road in East Dennis, not far from Dennis Pines Golf Course. Keep in mind that berry season only runs between early July and mid-August, and the farm occasionally closes early for the season if it runs out of blueberries.
Still, for fresh blueberries on the Mid-Cape, it's tough to beat Hokum Rock Blueberry Farm.
Not Enough Acres Farm
East Dennis is also home to Not Enough Acres Farm, an organic produce market sitting just north of Main Street on Sesuit Neck Road.
As its name suggests, this is a small farm with just six acres of land. Nevertheless, owners Jeff and Beth Deck make the most of the space, selling popular produce items like broccoli, carrots, corn, green beans, kale, mushrooms, onions, garlic, peas, salad greens, spinach, tomatoes, and squash.
You'll also find herbs like basil, parsley, and thyme, in addition to honey, goat cheese, and eggs.
The great thing about Not Enough Acres Farm is that they're open from sunrise until sunset throughout the summer. As a result, you'll always have access to fresh seasonal vegetables to bring to your vacation rental.
Cape Abilities Farm
Cape Abilities Farm is just outside of downtown Dennis Village on Main Street, a few blocks from Dennis Public Market. This organic farm features a large market with cheese, dairy products, grocery items, meats, and frozen foods. There's also an on-site bakery.
As for the produce, you'll find all kinds of fruit and vegetables at Cape Abilities Farm, including apples, blueberries, strawberries, lettuce, cucumber, mushrooms, onions, peppers, potatoes, and tomatoes.
Keep in mind that not everything at Cape Abilities is grown on-site, as they source many items from around the Cape, elsewhere in the country, and even internationally. However, most things at this market are organic and high in quality, and they do grow some produce in their on-site greenhouses, too.
If you only want to make one stop as you put your next Cape Cod meal together, chances are you'll find everything you need at Cape Abilities Farm.
Annie's Crannies
If you love cranberries, Annie's Crannies is a must-visit location as you explore the Cape.
This shop is dedicated entirely to cranberries, and it even sits right on a cranberry bog that you can tour if you stop by at the right time.
Once you head inside, you can purchase cranberry jams, candles, soaps, and preserves. There are also fresh cranberries for sale in the fall, and honey from the farm's very own hives, as well.
Visiting Annie's Crannies is more of an experience than the other farms on this list. If you're on the Cape between early October and the middle of November, make sure you stop at their Scarsdale Road location.
Cooking at Your Vacation Rental
Although Dennis only has a population of about 14,000 people, its five villages are pretty spread out. The result is plenty of space for golf courses, forests, and, of course, farms, all of which you can use while vacationing in the area.
Having a vacation rental with a kitchen offers a massive advantage as you explore the Cape. Not only can you save some money by not eating out for every meal, but you can explore some of these local farms and try produce that you otherwise couldn't sample.
Cape Cod is full of beautiful attractions, but the organic farms in its communities are some of the hidden gems that most visitors will never get to experience.
Dennis Farmers Market
Cape Cod’s 2019 Farmers’ Markets
Posted by Kinlin Grover | Friday, May 10, 2019
When visiting Cape Cod, one of your only jobs, before you relax, will be stocking your vacation rental with the necessary food for the week. There are many grocery stores here, but why not hit up one of the local farmers’ markets to grab some fruits, vegetables, cheese, meats, and other products from right here on the Cape?
As you’ll soon learn, there is a farmers’ market every day of the week, and in nearly every town on Cape Cod, so you’re never far from someone selling fresh, organic produce.
Here is information on some of the larger farmers’ markets taking place on the Cape in 2019.
Brewster Historical Society Farmers’ Market
The first market of the week takes place on Sundays at Windmill Village, which is beside Drummer Boy Park in Brewster. The Brewster Historical Society Farmers’ Market runs between 9:30 AM and 12:30 PM and features fresh produce, eggs, baked goods, grass-fed beef, flowers, and herbal and natural beauty products, in addition to arts, crafts, and live music. A collection of picnic tables, children's activities, and free parking make the market a great place to spend the morning. It all gets started on June 23, with the final market occurring on September 8.
Mashpee Commons Farmers’ Market
Organic Market is a permanent grocery store in Mashpee Commons shopping mall. On Sundays, between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM from June through October, its parking lot transforms into the Mashpee Commons Farmers’ Market, which attracts vendors from all over Cape Cod. In addition to local produce, there's always prepared meals and live music, plus a selection of artisans, giving the market a festive atmosphere.
Truro Educational Farmers’ Market
Mondays, rain or shine between June 3 and August 26, 2019, you can visit the Truro Educational Farmers’ Market from 8:00 AM until noon. The location is handy, as it sits in Veterans Memorial Park, right next to the Post Office and along the Pamet River, and this market puts a particular focus on educating the public on the importance of sustainable food, thanks to the Sustainable CAPE initiative.
Chatham Farmers’ Market
Local Color Art Gallery hosts the Chatham Farmers’ Market on Tuesdays between 3:00 and 6:30 PM. Opening day in 2019 is May 14, and the market will run into early October. In addition to local organic produce, you'll find soap, crafts, juice, coffee, meat, baked goods, and flowers at the market, giving you the opportunity to pick up whatever you need for your vacation rental.
Sandwich Farmers’ Market
Tuesdays between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM is the time to head to The Village Green on Historic Route 6A for the Sandwich Farmers’ Market. The market generally runs between the middle of June and early October and gives you an excellent chance to support some Cape Cod farmers in a great location.
Wellfleet Farmers’ Market
If you're in the Wellfleet area on a Wednesday between 8:00 AM and noon, stop by The Grove at the Wellfleet Congressional Church for its weekly farmers’ market. The 2019 Wellfleet Farmers’ Market starts on May 15 and runs until October 9 and features a wide selection of local produce, cheese, meat, honey, spice rubs, jams, and eggs. You’ll also find fresh coffee, baked goods, and live music every week. In addition to the Wednesday market, there is a corn roast and party on July 28, a dinner on October 9, and the annual harvest market on November 24.
Bass River Farmers’ Market
The Bass River Farmers’ Market runs on both Thursday and Saturday starting on June 13 and ending on September 7 in 2019. This market operates between 9:00 AM and 1:30 PM on those days in a park on Old Main Street, just across from The Cultural Center of Cape Cod and the South Yarmouth Library. There is a small parking lot at the venue, and the market will take place rain or shine, so if you're in South Yarmouth during your vacation, take the opportunity to visit.
Falmouth Farmers’ Market
Over in Falmouth, there's a market every Thursday between noon and 6:00 PM, starting on May 23. The great thing about the Falmouth Farmers’ Market is its incredible Marine Park location, as it overlooks Falmouth Harbor so you can spend some time watching the boats go by after picking up some local produce and goods. There is a large parking lot here, as well.
Harwich Farmers’ Market
Stop by the Brooks Academy Museum Grounds in Harwich Center any Thursday between mid-June and mid-October for the Harwich Farmers’ Market. This rain or shine event runs from 3:00 to 6:00 PM and features all the locally-grown produce, meats, flowers, herbs, baked goods, and cheeses that you'd expect, in a convenient to access location.
Farmers’ Market Meets Happy Hour
For something a little different, check out Farmers’ Market Meets Happy Hour at Cape Cod Beer in Hyannis. Here, you can pick up some local produce and play a game of cornhole, all while enjoying a pint from the beer trailer. The action takes place every Friday between 3:00 and 6:00 PM starting on May 25 and ending September 14. Nothing says “I’m on vacation” like having a delicious beer while buying your produce for the week, and that’s precisely what you can do at Cape Cod Beer.
Osterville Farmers’ Market
Also on Fridays is the Osterville Farmers’ Market, which runs from 9:00 AM until 1:00 PM at the Osterville Historical Museum on West Bay Road. In 2019, the season will be from June 21 through September 13, with each market bringing a selection of fruit, vegetables, meats, cheeses, soaps, herbs, butter, sweets, eggs, and much more. Plus, there is free parking, so if you're not doing anything on a Friday morning, stop by to see what they have to offer.
Orleans Farmers’ Market
The Orleans Farmers’ Market operates year round, so no matter when you visit the Cape, be sure to give it a try. The winter market takes place on Saturdays in Nauset Middle School’s cafeteria from the beginning of December through the end of April between 9:00 AM and noon. Then, between early May and the end of November, the market heads outdoors to a field on Old Colony Way, right beside Orleans Marketplace. The outdoor market is also on Saturdays but start an hour earlier at 8:00 AM. Both markets emphasize local produce, and you'll frequently find guest performers at the open-air version.
Provincetown Farmers’ Market
One of the smaller markets on Cape Cod takes place in Provincetown, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for with its scenic location. The Provincetown Farmers’ Market is held every Saturday between early May and the middle of September at the corner of Ryder Street and Commercial Street, just outside of Provincetown Town Hall, and is mere steps from both the Pilgrim Monument and Harbor Beach. As a result, it's an outstanding place to stop on your vacation or when touring Commercial Street and its seemingly endless supply of high-end restaurants. The market goes from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM and includes well-known vendors like Pain D’Avignon, Lara Cuisine, and Allen Farms.
Markets Everywhere
As you can see, there are pop-up markets all over Cape Cod, making it easy to keep your vacation rental stocked with all the freshest produce throughout your time here.
Head over to the farmers’ market nearest you so that you can spend your time on the Cape not only living like a local but eating like one, too.
Bass River Brewster Cape Cod Beer Chatham Falmouth Farmers Market Harwich Hyannis Mashpee Commons Orleans Osterville Provincetown Sandwich Truro Wellfleet