Where to Find Affordable Fruits and Vegetables in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, thousands of families face the daily challenge of balancing their budget without sacrificing their health.
Although the SNAP and WIC programs face risks of suspension due to lack of federal funds, Governor Maura Healey continues to manage financial support.
Meanwhile, the state network and community organizations remain committed to ensuring that no family is left without access to basic food.
The SNAP Response Hub and organizations such as Project Bread, Greater Boston Food Bank, and the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP)— remain active to ensure no family is left behind.
The real strength comes from the community response: local networks, mobile markets, and neighborhood pantries that bring fruits, vegetables, and nutritious food.
Therefore, different organizations, hospitals, and community leaders are promoting sustainable and inclusive solutions. Solutions ranging from purchase incentives to mobile markets and urban agriculture programs.
These initiatives not only ensure healthier eating but also strengthen public health, foster sustainability, and create a sense of belonging among neighbors.
Every bag of fruit, every food truck, and every volunteer represents an act of collective hope.
At My Health Fair, we join this purpose of outreach and share a practical guide to accessing fresh, free, or low-cost food in your neighborhood. This guide is based on the Food Resource Guide 2025 from vitalcxns.org.
1. Community Pantries That Make a Difference
- Codman Square Food Pantry – Catholic Charities (Dorchester): Offers fruits, vegetables, bread, and frozen meat. Staff speaks Spanish and Haitian Creole.
- 185 Columbia Rd, Dorchester
- (617) 506-6600
- Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Roslindale Congregational Church Food Pantry: Delivers boxes with fresh food at no cost.
- 25 Cummins Highway, Roslindale
- (857) 396-7641 | rfpmanager.rcc@gmail.com
- Second and fourth Saturday of the month, 2–4 p.m.
- Faith Christian Church (Dorchester): Fruits, vegetables, milk, and juices, on a first-come, first-served basis.
- 301 Harvard St, Dorchester
- (617) 265-5700
- Second and fourth Friday, 1–3 p.m.
2. Mobile Markets: Fresh Food Delivered to Your Neighborhood
- Fresh Truck Mobile Market: Trucks with fruits and vegetables at low prices in Boston, Dorchester, Roxbury, and Roslindale.
- freshtruck.org | (617) 297-7685
- Trustees Mobile Farmers Market: Offers organic vegetables grown on local farms.
- Roxbury YMCA (285 MLK Jr. Blvd.) and Hyde Park (400 Georgetowne Dr.)
- (617) 542-7696
- Thursdays and Fridays, according to the seasonal calendar.
- YMCA Mobile Food Market: Distributes fruits, vegetables, and non-perishable food for free, with no requirements or registration.
- Various weekly locations.
3. Programs That Multiply Your Benefits
- Double Up Food Bucks: Offers a 50% discount on fresh food at participating stores and markets.
- food@boston.gov | (617) 635-3717
- Fresh Connect: Prepaid card that covers purchases of fresh produce at local supermarkets.
- Consult your health provider to apply.
4. Where to Ask for Help
- Project Bread – FoodSource Hotline
- 1-800-645-8333 (in Spanish)
- Monday to Friday, 8 a.m.–7 p.m. | Saturdays, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
- Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP): Coordinates pantries, food banks, and local markets throughout the state.
5. Initiatives That Inspire
- Roslindale Food Collective: 24/7 community pantry, based on mutual aid.
- Trinity Church, 1195 Centre St, West Roxbury
- rosifoodcollective@gmail.com
- Sundays 3–3:30 p.m.
- Food For Free (Cambridge): Distributes fresh and cooked food to schools, families, and local programs.
- Boston Area Gleaners (Waltham): Harvests surplus agricultural produce and distributes it to pantries and community markets.
6. Stay Informed
Subscribe to the Weekly Food Resource Guide to receive updates on markets, pantries, and healthy food fairs.
You can also download the Abundance app, with an updated map of food pantries and mobile markets throughout Massachusetts.
At My Health Fair, we work with organizations, providers, and communities so that every family has access to fresh, safe, and nutritious food regardless of their language, income, or place of residence.
Every market, every pantry, and every volunteer is part of a movement that shows that health begins at the table and grows in the community.
