Fresh fruits and vegetables. Locally-made cheese. Hard-working farmers. These are just a few reasons why we frequent the farmers’ markets. Add to this some live music, the sun setting, and string lights overhead, and you’ve got yourself a whole new reason to get excited about local food.

Thanks to the popularity of their Saturday morning farmers’ market, Union Square Main Streets launched Swirl & Slice last Thursday – a market dedicated to specialty foods produced by Massachusetts farms. The market, which takes place every Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m., provides consumers with specialty foods they can, for instance, pack for a picnic, or take on a weekend getaway with friends. Items at this brand new market include wine, cheese, breads, jams, cut flowers, cured meats, nut butters and other locally-produced foods. 

Vendors at Thursday’s market included Turtle Creek Winery, Coastal Vineyards, Sprouted Raw Foods and Puff Tarts. As the summer goes on, more vendors will be there to sell their products, including Doves and Figs and Taza Chocolate. For a full list of vendors, go here.

Another perk of this market is the “Tasting Table.” The Tasting Table provides educational programs taught by top restauranteurs and other food experts. Last Thursday’s course, for example, was “Wine 101,” and tickets cost $15. Upcoming programs include Spruce Up Your Cheese Plate with Didi Emmons (July 12); Grilling 2.0 with Tim and Bronwyn Wiechmann (July 19); and Reasons to Love Stinky Cheese with Cheesemongers Molly Hopper and Abby Gregory (August 30). A full list of upcoming programs, as well as the musical acts that will be performing each Thursday night, can be found here.