Belmont Farmers Market Gets Town OK; Day Change To Be Discussed

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Photo: Farmer Market Manager Suzanne Johannet (left) and Belmont Food Collabrative’s Anne Lougée before the Belmont Board of Selectmen on Monday, April 3. 

The Belmont Farmers Market will open for the 2017 season in Belmont Center after the Belmont Board of Selectmen unanimously approved a permit to its parent non-profit the Belmont Food Collaborative at the board’s public meeting on Monday, April 3.

The vote occurred a week after an attempt by the manager of the Center’s largest landlord to relocate the popular weekly market out of the Claflin Street municipal parking lot which has served as the home for Market Day in Belmont since its inception 12 years ago.

Approximately 50 market supporters who attended the meeting gave out an enthusiastic cheer after the selectmen cast its vote.

“I am so thrilled with the support from all the people who come out to shop at the Farmers Market,”said Dr. Suzanne Johannet, the Food Collaborative’s president and Farmers Market manager. She noted the level of support is not simply due to the produce and other products but that the market “provides a social experience that helps build communities and enhances life in Belmont.”

Unlike the previous meeting – which resulted in the vote being delayed a week – the encounter was far less combatative as all sides of the issue checked their emotions.

“I would have liked to have had a better tone, it was a late meeting,” said Kevin Foley, the manager of Locatelli Properties LLC which owns the former Macy’s buildling and most of the eastern side of the commercial block of Leonard Street,

Foley informed the board he and his team “wants to work with the Farmers Market … we are for the Farmers Market” and so would like to develop a plan in which the market was not be held on one of the most active shopping days of the week.

“Thursday is a very busy time,” Foley said, anticipating that many of the 200 parking spaces in the municipal lot will be occupied.

With six new business in the renovated Macy’s site preparing to open beginning in mid-May, the demand on the limited supply of parking spaces will hinder the new businesses ability to establish themselves and attract new customers.

Johannet said she finds it hard to imagine altering the long-standing traditional day for the market “on something that might turn out to be a problem which hasn’t been a problem for 12 years,” 

Johannet countered the market only requires 19 spaces for most of each Thursday and has never experienced any trouble finding parking on Market Day, supported by a 2011-12 town wide parking study showing between 60 – 100 free spaces in the lot on any given Thursday. 

All sides agreed that the market and landlord will return before the board after the end of the 2017 season in late October to review the parking issues. 

 

Largest Landlord Wants Farmers Market Out of Belmont Center

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Photo: Kevin Foley before the Board of Selectmen.

It was supposed to be one of the dozens upon dozen perfunctory acts the Board of Selectmen performs ever year.

Before the board was representatives of the Belmont Food Collaborative, the folks who run the Belmont Farmers Market which is celebrating its 12th season in 2017. A popular public amenity, the farmers market has become a weekly attraction for families and foodies as well as countless Center’s workers who shop regularly for fresh produce, baked goods, and kitchen essentials.

The collaborative was seeking its annual town permit to run the market on Thursday afternoons from June to October in the rear of the town-owned parking lot behind Leonard Street in Belmont Center.

As the board’s agenda was running two hours behind its scheduled time, the selectmen appeared ready to give its blessing to the group after a few words of heartfelt success for the coming season.

Then in the nearly empty chamber, Kevin Foley, the manager of Locatelli Properties LLC – the largest landlord in Belmont Center which owns the commercial space along Leonard Street from Alexander Street to the crosswalk at Channing Road – came to the microphone and figuratively rolled a grenade into the meet and greet.

Delivering several copies of a petition with 22 signatures of business owners and store managers – nearly all tenants of his – Foley put it bluntly to the Selectmen: The Belmont Farmers Market has to go away from its long-time home in the Claflin Street Municipal Parking Lot. Now.

“It does not make sense to put a farmers market in a business community where it’s not supported,” said Foley, to the board which greeted his proclamation with bemused surprise.

And that lack of support was squarely placed on a reduction of limited parking opportunities in the municipal lot just as several large-scale businesses will be entering the Center in the next few months.

Saying the property owner has paid millions of dollars in property taxes while spending millions more on structural improvements to the former Macy’s location to attract its newest tenant, Foodies’ Urban Market “with the assurances that we would be improving parking.”

“What you’re doing [with this vote] is taking the busiest days and making it less convenient and hurt business,” said Foley.

Saying his tenant Foodies’ is “a direct competitor” with the farmers market, Foley said the supermarket’s first year in Belmont “is critical for them” to attract customers to the location. 

Insisting he wanted “immediate action” on his request, Foley told the board what the businesses want is for the Farmers Market is to “find a different location” in town, suggesting alternative spaces such as church and school parking lots.

“If the town really wants it, put it in the [Town Hall] parking lot,” he said.

“Belmont Center is not the right spot for it,” Foley told the board as the two collaborative representatives were left to hear its venture was suddenly seen as the red-headed stepchild to the business community.

Foley said for more than a year he received “assurances from different town officials that when Foodies’ opens this won’t be an issue,” naming the recently departed Town Administrator David Kale as that person. 

Parking has long been an issue in Belmont Center going back to when Filene’s’ department store anchored the retail community. Unlike commercial or strip malls, the parking lot is owned by the town with, what former selectmen believe, a two-fold purpose of supporting the businesses and residents.

Dr. Suzanne Johannet, the Food Collaborative president, told the board that an extensive search to find a suitable location was done by the group when the farmers market was initially proposed. Church properties were problematic due to services such as weddings, funerals, and meetings while schools could not be used from September onward. She noted that the market only requires 19 spaces for 21 afternoons in 2017. 

“This is a central location in town,” Johannet said. “We have great relations with the Belmont Center Business Association,” she said, adding that the collaborative has reached out to Foodies to work together to promote each other’s ventures.

While sympathetic to Foley’s complaint on parking, Selectman Chair Mark Paolillo said in the town’s view; the Farmers Market was a “quality of life issue for people” noting it could not be a success for 12 years if people did not support it.

“There’s no other place to put (the farmers market),” said Paolillo, who told Foley that the town would continue to push for a solution to the parking problem.

Here is where the conclave became fractious as Foley challenged Paolillo’s attempt to vote on the permit.

“You’re going to vote on that now?” pondered Foley which Paolillo quickly said yes, he would.

Foley countered that it only took him three hours to gather up the signatures of his tenants opposing the permit which Paolillo waved off saying that the farmers market attracted business to the center.

“There are several comments I’d like to make,” said Foley.

“You’ve already made them,” said Paolillo, as the large clock in the room struck 10 p.m.

“So you’re shutting me off?” asked Foley.

“I am, please,” said Paolillo.

It was then when Selectman Jim Williams, supported by Selectman Sami Baghdady, threw Foley and his immediate request a lifeline, asking to postpone a vote a week until Monday, April 3, as everyone talked over each other for a bit. Williams said he would review the comments from the businesses which signed the petition.

Foley told the Belmontonian after the meeting that the issue is not supported for the Farmers Market which Foley said he favors “but just not in a location that we have a difficult time right now.”

“What do you think will happen when four new businesses open. We’ll need every space to help them to be successful,” said Foley.

The Food Collaborative, in a press statement, stated that they “are aware of concerns about parking in the Center. We acknowledge that things have been difficult for all of us over the past two summers during the construction project.”

“As for employee parking, which we understand is a big issue, we don’t believe that eliminating our use of the lot would have any significant impact. Our volunteers and vendors park on surrounding streets and not in the lot,” said the Collaborative.

“If this season shows that there are significant parking problems, we are open to discussion about alternative locations for the future,” said the non-profit.
 
“We are hopeful that with the construction finished, the new spaces on Concord Avenue and the opening of Foodies, all businesses, including the Farmers Market will thrive this summer.

Only Five Belmont Market Days Left This Season, Get the Fall Produce

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Photo: At the market

It’s another market day in Belmont. But looking at the calendar, there are only five Farmer Market Thursdays left in the season! What are you waiting for? 

With the fall weather arrives with fall produce: in the fruit category, there are apples, pears and the last strawberries. Vegetables in season are broccoli, carrots and cabbage, the last of corn on the cob, garlic, leeks, potatoes, pumpkins and sprouts along with tomatoes and winter squash. 

Market hours are 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The market is located in the municipal parking lot behind Belmont Center at the corner of Channing and Cross.

WEEKLY VENDORS

OCCASIONAL VENDORS

Performances in the Events Tent
• 4:30 p.m.: Sandy Ridge Boys play traditional, straight-ahead bluegrass on banjo, dobro, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, and bass.

Tasting in the Events Tent
• 2 p.m.: Tasting by Spoodles Soup Factory, a new Belmont restaurant next to the Studio Cinema.

Storytime
• 4 p.m.: Stories for all ages, sponsored by the Belmont Public Library.

Community Table
• Lisa Fiore from the Belmont School Committee.

Tomatoes, Corn And Much More on Market Day

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Photo: In season heirloom tomatoes.
A little rain today – OK, it may even be a bit stormy –  should be gone by 2 p.m. and Market Day should be a good one. Local corn continues to come in along with more tomatoes and raspberries. 
Try out this recipe from Bon Appétit magazine using many products that you can purchase at the market: bread, tomatoes, herbs and mozzarella.
This week’s occasional vendors
Turtle Creek Winery, Warren Farm & Sugarhouse, Belmont Acres Farm, True Grounds Coffee House

The Market’s weekly vendors
Mamadou’s Artisan Bakery, Dick’s Market Garden, Stillman Quality Meats, Boston Smoked Fish Co., Goodies Homemade, Sfolia Baking Company, Hutchins Farm, Kimball Fruit Farm, Foxboro Cheese Co., Flats Mentor Farm, Couët Farm & Fromagerie.
The market is located in the Belmont Center Municipal Parking Lot at the corner of Cross Street at Channing Rd. on Thursday afternoons, 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. until October.
Community Table
  • Pop-Up Library at the Market
Schedule of Events
  • 2 p.m.: Join Tom Cutrone, owner of Savinos Grill of Belmont, and sample their delicious Italian-Mediterranean options at the market. Savinos cuisine features creative seasonal pairings of fresh, local and imported foods, the perfect complement to a summer day at the farmer’s market.
  • 4 p.m.: Story Time with the Children’s Librarians from the Belmont Public Library.
  • 4:30 p.m.: Activities for kids with the Mount Auburn Cemetery include making and decorating bird’s nests and flowers using paper plates and other materials. We will also be handing out our free Kid’s Nature Guides for the summer season. 

Have All Your Sharpening Done At The Farmers Market

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Photo: Knife and tool sharpening today.
Siraco Sharpening Service, a Market Day favorite, will be at the Belmont Farmers Market today, Thursday, July 7. Siraco’s sharpening van will be parked next to the market for all of your knife and tool-sharpening needs.
Flats Mentor Farm has joined the market for the rest of the season, with an incredible variety of Asian vegetables. This week, be on the look out for strawberries, green beans and a wide range of lettuce. 
Open 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays through October, the Farmers Market is located in the municipal parking lot at the corner of Cross Street and Channing Road.
 
Community Table
4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.: State Rep. Dave Rogers is holding office hours. 
Events

3 p.m.: Joe Zarro Belmont resident and pastor at the Plymouth Congregational Church, Zarro will be playing a series of solo acoustic covers, ranging from classic rock to folk.

4 p.m.: Storytime Enjoy stories and songs about food and farms, an event for “children of all ages.” 

4:30 p.m.: Jeremy Doran A Belmont resident, Doran will be performing music on piano this week. A world traveler, Jeremy has lived in the Boston area for the past seven years. He plays with folk bands, classical vocal and instrumental ensembles, as a solo performer, and in local churches.

Market Day in Belmont: Stock Up For The 4th

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Photo: Greens are in the market. 

Take time out before the July 4th holiday to stock up on the freshest produce and sundries on Market Day, Thursday, June 30.

The last June Market features strawberries, arugula, carrots, garlic scapes, leafy greens and lots of fresh peas.

Occasional vendors this week are Turtle Creek Winery, Warren Farm & Sugarhouse, Belmont Acres Farm and True Grounds Coffee House.

Performances in the Events Tent

  • 2 p.m.: Bob Leger returns play guitar and sing classic, pop, rock, country folk and blues songs.
  • 4 p.m.: Storytime – Stories for all ages, sponsored by the Belmont Public Library.
  • 4:30 p.m.: Music Together of Belmont: music for children from birth through age 7, and the grownups who love them.
  • 5 p.m.: Solomon Murungu returns with music showing the culture, folklore, and wisdom of the Shona people of Zimbabwe.

Traffic advisory: There will be sidewalk work under the Belmont Center railroad bridge weekdays through July 7. This has caused some delays, but the roads are open. Work stops at 4 p.m.; the market is open until 6:30 p.m.

Find out what’s at the Market each week  Sign up for the email newsletter for weekly info about vendors, performers and special events. Follow the Market on Facebook and Twitter.

SNAP payments: The market accepts and doubles SNAP benefits (formerly called Food Stamps) up to an extra $25 per Market day, while matching funds last. Make a tax-deductible donation to the Belmont Food Collaborative to support programs like this.

Belmont Farmers Market Opens 11th Season Today, Thursday, June 9

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Photo: “Miss Tomato” cuts the ribbon to start last year’s market season.

The 11th season of the Belmont Farmers Market opens today, Thursday, June 9 when the ceremonious “tomato” ribbon is cut by special guest Peter Struzziero, Belmont’s library director, at 2 p.m. 

The market is located in the rear of the Claflin Street Municipal Parking Lot near the intersection of Cross Street and Channing Road

There will be a special opening day concert at 4:30 p.m. as members of the Chenery Middle School’s  7th grade Orchestra, 7th grade Band, 7th grade Jazz Combo, along with 3rd graders on violin and cello duets will perform. 

Other events include:

Tastings in the Events Tent
2:30 p.m.: Tasting by Belmont’s own Phinix Grill

Storytime
4 p.m.: Stories for all ages, sponsored by the Belmont Public Library.

Community Table
Popup Library at the Market: Check out children’s books and cookbooks.

Weekly vendors
C & C Lobsters and Fish, Mamadou’s Artisan Bakery, Dick’s Market Garden, Boston Smoked Fish Co., Goodies Homemade, Sfolia Baking Company, Hutchins Farm, Kimball Fruit Farm, Foxboro Cheese Co.

Belmont Food Pantry
Drop off non-perishables items each week.

Tomatoes Heading Out, Apples Coming In the Belmont Farmers Market

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Photo: Apples and tomatoes.

The Belmont Farmers Market welcomes September; a month of transitions: the return to school, the change from summer to fall, the close of tomato season and the beginning of the apple harvest. 

This is the last week that the Market will remain open until 6:30 p.m. Starting next week, Sept. 10, the market will begin closing at 6 p.m. for the rest of the season.

This week also marks the return of volunteer Storytime readers, taking over from the Belmont Public Library children’s librarians who hosted the event this summer.

The Belmont Farmers Market is open from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays throughout the summer until the final week of October. The market is located in the municipal parking lot at the intersection of Cross Street and Channing Road in Belmont Center.
 
Schedule of Events
  • 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.: Music by Branson Bofat 
  • 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.: Belmont Public “Pop-up” Library
  • 3 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.: Julia Lenef is a Belmont High School graduate who has played violin since 3rd grade. She plays jazz, classical, and occasionally rock.
  • 4 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.: Storytime by the Library
  • 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.: Activities for kids by the Mount Auburn Cemetery: Staff from the cemetery will offer a make your own butterfly activity for children of all ages. In addition, they will be distributing copies of their new “Mount Auburn Family Nature Guide,” an activity guide to explore the cemetery in all seasons. 
Monthly and occasional vendors at the market this week are:  
Coastal Vineyards, Couët Farm & Fromagerie, Seta’s Mediterranean Foods, Soup N’ Spoon.
Weekly Vendors: 
Boston Smoked Fish Co., C&C Lobsters and Fish, Dick’s Market Garden Farm, Fior D’Italia, Flats Mentor Farm, Foxboro Cheese Co., Gaouette Farm, Goodies Homemade, Hutchins Farm, Kimball Fruit Farm, Mamadou’s Artisan Bakery, Nicewicz Family Farm, Sfolia Baking Company, Stillman Quality Meats.
Food Truck in the Belmont Center Parking Lot
Jamaica Mi Hungry 

Tomatoes and Cupcakes Headline Market Day in Belmont

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Photo: Tomatoes at their peak. 

The best time of the year to enjoy ripe tomatoes is now. Market Day in Belmont this Thursday, Aug. 27, features late August harvest that includes blueberries, cantaloupe, corn, eggplants, peaches, peas, peppers, raspberries, summer squash, watermelon and many variations of tomatoes. 

This week’s tasting is by Yum Bunnies Cakery. Located at 241 Belmont St., Yum Bunnies offers custom cakes and cupcakes: You choose your cake flavor and filling. Voted “BEST Birthday Cakes” for two years running by the Boston AList, the cakery reminds you to “Eat your cake & have it be cute too!” 

The Belmont Farmers Market is open from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays throughout the summer until the final week of October. The market is located in the municipal parking lot at the intersection of Cross Street and Channing Road in Belmont Center.
 
Schedule of Events
  • 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.: Tasting by Yum Bunnies Cakery
  • 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.: Belmont Public “Pop-up” Library
  • 4 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.: Storytime by the Library
  • 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.: Music by the Sandy Ridge Boys
Monthly and occasional vendors at the market this week are:  
Carlisle Honey, Fille de Ferme Jams, Turtle Creek Winery, Underwood Greenhouses.
Weekly Vendors: 
Boston Smoked Fish Co., C&C Lobsters and Fish, Dick’s Market Garden Farm, Fior D’Italia, Flats Mentor Farm, Foxboro Cheese Co., Gaouette Farm, Goodies Homemade, Hutchins Farm, Kimball Fruit Farm, Mamadou’s Artisan Bakery, Nicewicz Family Farm, Sfolia Baking Company, Stillman Quality Meats.
Food Truck in the Belmont Center Parking Lot

Jamaica Mi Hungry 

Zimbabwe Songs, Thai Food and Sharp Knives at Farmers Market

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Photo: Knives under the stone.

There will be songs from a far-off land, a Thai tasting and the opportunity to sharpen your culinary equipment this week at the Belmont Farmers Market today, Thursday, Aug. 20.

Siraco Knife Sharpening will be in the Belmont Center parking lot, sharpening your knives, scissors, and garden tools while you shop.

Belmont’s Solomon Murungu will share the history of the mbira and demonstrate how to play this unique instrument made of wood with staggered metal keys. Visitors are encouraged to join in and try the various mbira instruments on display.

The Belmont Farmers Market is open from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays throughout the summer until the final week of October. The market is located in the municipal parking lot at the intersection of Cross Street and Channing Road in Belmont Center.
Schedule of Events
  • 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.: Music by Solomon Murungu
  • 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.: Belmont Public “Pop-up” Library
  • 4 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.: Storytime by the Library
  • 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.: Tasting by Patou Thai

In the Belmont Center Parking Lot:
Siraco Knife Sharpening

Monthly and occasional vendors at the market this week are:  
Seta’s Mediterranean Food, Spindler Confections, Westport Rivers Winery
Weekly Vendors: 
Boston Smoked Fish Co., C&C Lobsters and Fish, Dick’s Market Garden Farm, Fior D’Italia, Flats Mentor Farm, Foxboro Cheese Co., Gaouette Farm, Goodies Homemade, Hutchins Farm, Kimball Fruit Farm, Mamadou’s Artisan Bakery, Nicewicz Family Farm, Sfolia Baking Company, Stillman Quality Meats.