South End Open Market Shuts Down

It looks like the plug has been pulled on a weekly outdoor gathering of food trucks, farm stands and more.

The Boston Globe is reporting that the South End Open Market is now "dead," as New England Open Markets president Chris Masci has decided to cease operations of the Sunday event--and he cites competition from other events--especially the SoWa Open Market--as being a reason for the closure. The South End Open Market actually used to be known as the SoWa Open Market and had been set up on Harrison Avenue until Masci and Mario Nicosia of GTI Properties got into a dispute, which led Masci to move the market to a temporary space last year by the nearby Ink Block, while Nicosia launched a market at the Harrison Avenue site, using the SoWa Open Market name.

Masci had been planning to move the South End Open Market to a new park under the Route 93 deck but ultimately decided to shut it down; he will continue to run a weekend market set up on the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway in downtown Boston, and several events will also take place at the new park under the highway as well.

The SoWa Open Market on Harrison Avenue will be running on both Saturdays and Sundays for the 2017 season, according to the Globe.

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Local Roots Market in Boston's North End Has Closed

An "urban farmer's market" in the North End of Boston has closed after being in business for less than a year.

NorthEndWaterfront.com is reporting that Local Roots on Hanover Street shut its doors this week, with owner Marco Imbergamo saying that "It was tough to build up a steady clientele in a short amount of time." The market, which first opened over the past winter, featured locally-sourced produce, dairy products, and meat, with the emphasis being on fresh and healthy products.

It is not yet known what might be going into the space vacated by Local Roots; the article does say that there is a chance the next owner could combine the space with another empty one next door.

The address for this now-closed market in the North End was: Local Roots, 402 Hanover Street, Boston, MA, 02113.

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[New article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Comfort Food Items from Boston-Area Restaurants]

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Fresh Truck (a Mobile Farmers Market) Is Coming to Boston

A rather unique food "truck" is on its way to Boston, and it will be offering affordable produce to the city's neighborhoods.

According to their Facebook page and website, Fresh Truck will be up and running this spring, with a retrofitted school bus being used as what is basically a mobile farmers market. The bus will bring fresh fruits and vegetables to Boston residents, with its mission being to improve both community health and health literacy in the city, and the folks behind it will also host educational programming that focuses on eating healthy.

Once it is up and running, Fresh Truck will go to a number of neighborhoods on a daily basis, with the focus being on underserved sections of Boston. A weekly schedule will be posted once the bus gets going in the spring.

[July 9 update: The ONEin3 Blog states that Fresh Truck launches this Thursday (July 11) at City Hall Plaza in Boston.]

[July 11 update: According to its Facebook page, Fresh Truck will launch at City Hall Plaza today between the hours of 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM.]

The website for Fresh Truck can be found at http://thefreshtruck.org/ while the Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/thefreshtruck

Thanks to BostonTweet for bringing this to our attention.


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Newton Winter Farmers' Market Coming to Newton Highlands

Yet another new winter farmers' market is setting up shop in the Boston area, with this one being located in a western neighbor of Beantown.

The Newton Patch is reporting that the city of Newton is readying a winter farmers' market at the Hyde Community Center at 90 Lincoln Street in Newton Highlands, with the market officially kicking off on Tuesday, November 13. The farmers' market will be held every Tuesday from 1:30 PM to 6:00 PM, with a number of local merchants selling everything from beef and seafood to cheese, jellies, and coffee.

The Facebook page for the Newton Farmers' Market can be found at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Newton-Farmers-Market/139682986097922


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Jamaica Plain's First Winter Farmers Market to Open

A new winter farmers market is getting ready to open, and this one will be setting up shop in a neighborhood of Boston.

An email sent from The Williams Agency indicates that Jamaica Plain will be the site of the Egleston Farmers Market this winter, with the market being located at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Hall on Brookside Avenue in the Egleston Square area. The market, which begins on Saturday, November 10, will likely have a dozen (or more) vendors, including Buckle Farms, Foxboro Cheese Company, Mei-Mei Street Kitchen, Stillmans Farm, and The Cupcakory.

The Egleston Farmers Market will be held on Saturdays twice a month in November and December and weekly in January and February, with hours being 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

For more information on Jamaica Plain's first farmers market, please go to the link below:

http://eglestonfarmersmarket.org/


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Walpole Baker Refuses to Accept EBT Cards for Her Pies at Braintree Farmers Market

The person behind a Walpole pie company is in the middle of a controversy that centers around whoopie pies and welfare benefits.

The Boston Herald is reporting that Andrea Taber, who owns the Ever So Humble Pie Company, is refusing to accept EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) cards for her pies at the Braintree Farmers Market. The article quotes Taber as stating that she doesn't think "American taxpayers should be footing the bill for people's pie purchases," and that "it's no different than nail salons and Lottery tickets....My pies are great, but come on." (She also mentioned that she doesn't have an issue with people using EBT cards to buy fresh fruit and vegetables, but doesn't think that "luxury or gourmet desserts" should be included in the EBT program.)

The folks behind the Braintree Farmers Market, which is held each Saturday, say that they simply want people who are in need to have access to foods from the market's vendors, with chairwoman Donna Ingemanson saying "We just thought that people that were on food stamps a lot of times don't have healthy choices....What better chance to buy healthy foods than at a farmers market?"

Currently, the Braintree Farmers Market encourages--but does not require--its vendors to accept EBT payments, but the management of the market may look into making it a requirement next year. If it does, Taber says that she will no longer set up shop at the market.


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2012 Strawberry Dessert Festival Coming to the Boston Area in June

A month-long festival that focuses on strawberries is on its way to the Boston area and elsewhere in Massachusetts.

An email from Comm Promo indicates that the 5th Annual Strawberry Dessert Festival will be held at participating restaurants and cafes starting June 1, with a variety of strawberry-themed creations that will help benefit Mass Farmers Markets (which will receive a portion of the proceeds raised). Eateries around the region will offer everything from traditional strawberry shortcake to a 5-course strawberry tasting menu and more. A few of the places that will take part in the event include Armsby Abbey in Worcester, The Beehive in Boston, Flora in Arlington, Highland Kitchen in Somerville, Oleana in Cambridge, Tastings in Foxboro, Vicki Lee's in Belmont, and many more spots.

For more information on the 2012 Strawberry Dessert Festival, please go to the link below.

Join us for the 5th annual Strawberry Dessert Festival!


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Winter Market to Start at Mahoney's in Winchester

Yet another indoor winter farmers' market is coming to the Boston area starting tomorrow, and this one will be a few miles north of the city.

According to their website, Mahoney's on Route 3 in Winchester is opening a Winter Market on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, with more than 25 vendors on hand. A few items that will be available include fruits, locally-grown root vegetables, herbs, olive oils, baked breads, cheeses, meats, smoked fish, desserts, and coffees, along with some jewelry and clothing. Vendors such as Cannistraci Fine Foods, Centerville Pie Company, Coastal Vinyards, The Danish Pastry House, Deb's Cookies, Doves and Figs, J&B Butcher, KO Catering Company, Soluna Garden Farms, and Westport Rivers Winery will be at the market, which will be held each Saturday through March 17.

The Mahoney's location in East Falmouth will be having a winter farmers' market as well.

The address for Mahoney's in Winchester is: Mahoney's, 242 Cambridge Street (Route 3), Winchester, MA, 01890. Their website can be found at http://www.mahoneysgarden.com/

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Ribbon-Cutting for the Dorchester Winter Farmers' Market

As we mentioned last week, the Dorchester Winter Farmers' Market began in Codman Square on Sunday, and it appears that several hundred folks headed over to check out the variety of breads, cheeses, meats, produce, honeys, jams, and more that were for sale within the historic Great Hall on Norfolk Street. In addition to people shopping for food and other goods, a ribbon-cutting took place at the farmers' market, with Mayor Menino doing the honors. [Thanks to GreenDorchester (Dorchester Environmental Health Coalition) for supplying the photo here.]

The market will be open every Sunday from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM through March.

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Dorchester Winter Farmers' Market Comes to Codman Square

Another winter farmers' market is getting ready to set up shop in the Boston area, with its starting date coming this weekend.

According to Public Radio Kitchen, the Dorchester Winter Farmers' Market begins this Sunday (January 8) at The Great Hall in Codman Square, an historic building that is located on Norfolk Street where Washington Street and Talbot Avenue meet. Public Radio Kitchen mentions that this farmers' market, which will be the only city market to accept EBT/SNAP and Boston Bounty Bucks, will offer a variety of breads, cheeses, meats, and produce, along with such items as honeys and jams. The market will be open every Sunday from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM through March.

[March 23 update: The last day for the Dorchester Winter Farmers' Market is this Sunday (March 25).]

A few other indoor farmers' markets can be found in the Boston area this winter, including markets at the Prudential Center in the Back Bay, the Armory in Somerville, and Russell's Garden Center in Wayland.

Thanks to Eater Boston for bringing the Dorchester Winter Farmers' Market to our attention.

[Earlier Articles]
Wayland Winter Farmers' Market to Start January 7, 2012
Indoor Farmers' Markets Coming to the Back Bay and Somerville This Winter

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Wayland Winter Farmers' Market to Start January 7, 2012

Another winter farmers' market is on the way to the Boston area, with this one being in a western suburb of the city.

According to the Russell's Garden Center website, the Wayland Winter Farmers' Market will be open at the center (which is on Route 20) starting on Saturday, January 7, 2012, and will be open every Saturday until March 10. The indoor market will include such items as cheese, cornmeal, eggs, greens, herbs, honey, maple products, meat, mushrooms, root vegetables, and yarn. In addition, the farmers' market will also feature items from specialty food vendors (pasta, jams, gelato, hummus, coffee, baked goods, etc.) Seating will be available within the Russell's Garden Center's greenhouse.

The Wayland Winter Farmers' Market will be open from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM each Saturday.

For more information, please go to the Russell's Garden Center link below:

http://www.russellsgardencenter.com/wayland_winter_mkt.html

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Indoor Farmers' Markets Coming to the Back Bay and Somerville This Winter

A couple of indoor farmers' markets are all set up for the winter, with one being in Boston's Back Bay and the other being in Somerville.

A post from Adam's Hospitality and Tourism Industry Blog indicates that The Shops at Prudential Center will be hosting a farmer's market every Thursday in the Belvidere Arcade, with the market continuing from now through next May. In addition, an email from the Somerville Winter Farmers' Market mentions that their farmers' market will take place on Saturdays from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM starting now through May 26, 2012 at The Center for Arts at the Armory on Highland Avenue.

For more information on these farmers' markets, links to The Shops at Prudential Center and the Somerville Winter Farmers' Market are below.

http://www.prudentialcenter.com/

http://www.facebook.com/SomervilleWinterFarmersMarket

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Urban Barn Dance Coming to Cambridge, October 20, 2011

An event that benefits a non-profit organization focusing on farmers markets is coming to Cambridge in October, and it will include food items prepared by three well-known Boston-area chefs.

An email from Tugboat 23 Consulting indicates that the fourth annual Urban Barn Dance will be held on Thursday, October 20 at the Dante Alighieri Center on Hampshire Street in Kendall Square. The event, which starts at 6:30 PM, is a harvest celebration that will have chefs Bob Sargent of Flora in Arlington, Chris Schlesinger of East Coast Grill in Cambridge, and Paul O'Connell of Chez Henri in Cambridge build a menu from such places as Kimball's Fruit Farm in Pepperell, Austin Brother Farms in Belchertown, Siena Farms in Sudbury, Danish Pastry House in Medford, and Hamilton Orchards in New Salem. In addition to food, music (with dancing) will also be provided, as well as a silent auction.

Tickets to the 2011 Urban Barn Dance cost $50, with proceeds benefiting The Federation of Mass Farmers Markets, an organization that works with farmers, consumers, and communities to help maintain a strong farmers market system within the commonwealth of Massachusetts.

For more information on this event (include the purchasing of tickets), please go to the Mass Farmers Markets link below.

2011 Urban Barn Dance

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Massachusetts Farmers' Market Week Being Held from August 22-28, 2010

For those of you who love farm stands and farmers' markets, an event being held this week in Massachusetts may be of particular interest to you.

According to the official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Farmers' Market Week is being held from now through Saturday, August 28, with a variety of events and activities going on throughout the state. Some of the events coming up include a chance for shoppers to win a basket of market products at the Arlington Farmers' Market on Wednesday, August 25; music, tastings of herb salsa and pesto, flower arrangement demonstrations, and live alpacas and rabbits at the Harwich Farmers Market on Thursday, August 26; recipe tips and giveaways at the Ashmont Farmers' Market in Dorchester on Friday, August 27; and a food demonstration and live, local music at the Greenfield Farmers' Market on Saturday, August 28.

A detailed list of events and activities for the 2010 Massachusetts Farmers' Market Week can be found at the following web page (please note that it is a PDF file).

http://www.mass.gov/agr/massgrown/docs/farmers-market-week-activities.pdf

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