Produce at Its Summer Peak at the Belmont Farmers Market

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It’s been a bit rough for local farmers as the growing season was late in coming. But shoppers at this week’s Belmont Farmers Market (today, Thursday, July 17 from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Belmont Center municipal parking lot) will find a wide range of fresh produce and fruit available: arugula, beets, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, chard, pickling cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, green beans, herbs – dill, parsley, cilantro and more – salad greens, onions, peas (snap and green), peppers, potatoes, radishes, raspberries, scallions, spinach, summer squash and zucchini. Look for tomatoes and corn coming soon.

Westport Rivers Winery, Sugar + Grain, Soluna Garden Farm and Bedford Blueberry Goat Farm are the occasional vendors this week joining the market’s weekly merchants. The Nicewicz Family Farm, a long-time market vendor, is eager to return to Belmont. However, their fruit tree crops have been affected by the late arrival of spring and they will not be at the Market until they have plenty of produce to offer.

The food truck this week will be Rhythm ‘n Wraps Food Truck.

The Belmont Farmers Market accepts and doubles SNAP benefits (formerly called Food Stamps) up to an extra $25 per market day, while matching funds last. Donations to the market’s parent organization, Belmont Food Cooperative,  help with programs like this.

In the events tent:

• Music by Sarah Fard from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

• Storytime: Deborah Borsuk of the Belmont Public Library Children’s Department will read about farms and farming for children of all ages from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• The Hoot Owls will liven up the afternoon with their old-time string music, featuring Ruth Rappaport on guitar, Ben Wetherbee on fiddle, and Celeste Frey on banjo. From 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Nice and Sharp: Knives and Other Appliances Sharpened at Farmers Market

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This week, among the growing number of produce and food stuffs, Market Day in Belmont will have Siraco Sharpening Service – been around the area for 61 years – which will reestablish a sharp edge to your knives, blades and gardening tools.

They’ll sharpen them while you shop at this week’s Belmont Farmers Market located in the municipal parking lot in Belmont Center at Cross Street and Channing Road from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Along with the regulars, this week the market hosts occasional vendors Turtle Creek Winery from Lincoln, Sara Ran Away with the Spoon, Wild Acre Inns and Seasoned and Spiced.

This week’s food truck is Benny’s Crepe Cafe, from 3 p.m. until the market’s closing.

Performers in the Events Tent


Joe Zarro, the pastor of Belmont’s Plymouth Congregational Church will be performing solo acoustic music, from classic rock to folk from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Chop Chop Magazine will have past and current issues, recipes and a cookbook from 3:00 – 5:00.

Storytime: Librarian Denise Shaver of the Belmont Public Library will be reading stories for preschool and older children from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Tasting: Bellmont Caffe, which recently opened in Belmont Center, will offer samples from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Stock Up at the Belmont Farmers Market for the 4th Weekend!

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The 4th of July just might be a rain out. But with the 5th and 6th expecting to be sunny and warm, why not declare your independence from the kitchen and stock up at the Belmont Farmers Market on fruits and vegetables, cheeses, meats, fish and just about anything you need for a July cook out

The Belmont Farmers’ Market will be open during its regular hours from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. today, Thursday, July 3.

Joining the regular group will be occasional vendors Still River, Sugar + Grain, Soluna Garden Farm and Bedford Blueberry Goat Farm.

As for the food truck, a new vendor, Rhythm ‘n Wraps, is a possibility.

Looking ahead to next week, Siraco Sharpening will be at the market on July 10; so bring whatever needs sharpening.

In the entertainment tent

Bob Leger, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Guitarist and singer Leger has played bass and toured with many rock and country bands. It’s his third season performing at the Belmont Farmers Market.

Storytime, 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Deborah Borsuk of the Belmont Public Library Children’s Department will be reading children’s books about farming and food.

Julia Lenef, 5 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Julia has played violin since third grade. A Belmont High School graduate, she plays jazz, classical and occasional rock. Julia likes improvising as well as playing composed music. She looks forward to her return to the market for her sixth year.

Market Day in Belmont: Maple Syrup Candy, Tomatoes and Jamaican Truck Food

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The Belmont Farmers Market is open today, Thursday, June 26, from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Belmont Municipal Parking Lot at the corner of Channing Road and Cross Street behind the Belmont Center shopping district.

This week, guest vendors are Coastal Vineyards, Sugar + Grain, DC Farm Maple Syrup and candy (new this season!) and Seasoned and Spiced. For a list of weekly vendors, visit the market’s Web site.

This Week’s Food Truck: Jamaica Mi Hungry, starting at 3 p.m.

In the Events Tent
• The Farewells, a local acoustic duo, returns to the market, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

• Stone Hearth Pizza, a staple in Belmont Center for many years, serves samples from their menu from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

• The Belmont Public Library sponsors storytime for preschool and older children. Denise Shaver, head of the Children’s Department, reads from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Belmont Food Pantry
Bring non-perishable items each week to the Market tent. The Market has supported the Pantry with nonperishable food collection over the years, along with donations of fresh produce from the Market’s community garden project.

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. Your donations to our parent organization, the Belmont Food Collaborative (belmontfood.org), help with programs like this. You can donate securely on the web site, or mail a check to PO Box 387, Belmont, MA 02478. We appreciate your support!

The Market is open on Thursdays through October 30, 2014, rain or shine.

Belmont Market Day: Jamaica Mi Hungry Food Truck and Late-Spring Greens on the Menu

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Summer is almost here, but there’s still time to enjoy spring’s bounty at this week’s Belmont Farmers Market.

After a long winter and a wet spring, assorted greens are bursting out of the fields and into the market. Check out our vendors for their early-season chard, radishes, spinach and other fresh goods like honey and eggs.

Weekly vendors: 

C&C Lobsters and Fish, Carlisle Honey, Dick’s Market Garden, The Farm School, Fior d’Italia Pasta, Foxboro Cheese Company, Goodie’s Homemade, Hutchins Farm, Kimball Fruit Farm, Mamadou’s Artisan Breads, Sfolia Baking Company, Stillman’s at the Turkey Farm

Occasional and guest vendors: 

Bedford Blueberry Goat Farm, Belmont Municipal Light Department, Rad Urban Farmers, Soluna Garden Farm, Sugar + Grain, Westport Rivers Winery.

Food truck: Jamaica Mi Hungry, 3 p.m. to closing. The truck’s owner, Chef Ernie, was at the Belmont Day School for three years. 

In the events tent:
2 p.m. to 3 p.m.: Music by Bridget Curzi
4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Storytime with the Belmont Public Library
4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Music by The String Beans

Learn about all of our vendors on our website.

Trucking In This Season’s Belmont Farmers Market

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For seven months, Suzanne Johannet would drive by the Claflin Street Parking Lot pinning for the return “of the white tents and vegetable and all the people” that makes up the Belmont Farmers Market.

Finally, on Thursday, June 12, Johannet and many residents got their wish as the Farmers Market celebrated the opening of its ninth season with vendors, a magician (Watertown’s Ryan Lally), trumpets and a first-ever food truck in the Belmont Center parking lot.

State Rep. Dave Rogers and kindergartener Daphne Ries – dressed as a tomato – cut the ceremonial ribbon as trumpeters Ned Searls and Jasper Wolf performed the traditional fanfare. Then Ries rang the market bell at 2 p.m. to announce the season lasting until the final Thursday in October.

“It’s always exciting to see the market reopen,” said Johannet who is a member of the Belmont Food Collaborative that manages the market.

Johannet said residents should come to the market because all the produce is fresh, it’s a great social event “seeing people you know each week” and there is an array of vendors so customers can pick up everything they need to make a great meal.

“If you love to cook and you love fresh vegetables, you’re in heaven here,” said Johannet.

Johannet also stressed that shopping at the market is just as cost effective as buying produce at the local supermarkets.

“We compare the prices of in season vegetables and fruits with those sold at the local food stores and the price is always the same or even less,” said J0hannet.

New this year will be food trucks which will come periodically. Thursday saw Benny’s Crêpe Café Truck stop by serving sweet and savory crepes and omelets. The other trucks include Jamaican Mi Hungry (whose owner is the food services manager at Belmont Day School) and Ribbons and Wraps.

“And who knows, we may add more as the season moves on,” said Johannet.

Ring the Bell! Belmont Farmers Market Opens for the Season Today

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It has been more than seven months since the market bell last rung but today, residents will once again have the opportunity to purchase fresh fruit, vegetable and lots of other good stuff as the Belmont Farmers Market opens for its ninth season at 2 p.m., Thursday, June 12, in the Claflin Street Municipal Parking Lot at the intersection of Cross Street and Channing Road in Belmont Center.

With an fanfare by Ned Searls and Jasper Wolf, State Rep. Dave Rogers will cut the tomato ribbon to officially open the market which will operate from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

A list of vendors, including several new businesses and producers, can be found here:

http://belmontfarmersmarket.org/vendors/

This year Belmont will see its first food trucks at the market; one serving crepes and omelets (monthly) and the other Jamaican food (the last two weeks in June, July and August).

Performers in the Events Tent
 today includes magic by Ryan Lally from 2:10 p.m. to 3 p.m. and old-time string music by The Hoot Owls from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

STORYTIME returns from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Last year it was mostly for preschool-aged children, but so many older kids came that we’re expanding it to include stories for older children. It’s sponsored by the Children’s Room of the Belmont Public Library. Librarians pick out books about food and farms, and market volunteers or librarians read each week.

The Belmont Farmers Market accepts SNAP benefits (formerly known as food stamps) and gives shoppers who use them extra money to spend at the market on approved items.

Here’s how it works:

  • Bring the SNAP card to the blue Market tent.
  • The manager will swipe the card and gives out certificates to shop with.
  • The market will double a shopper’s SNAP benefits up to $25 per day, while matching funds are available. Example: If you planned to spend $10, the market will double that amount and provide certificates worth $20 to spend at the market.
  • Get full details at the Market Managers’ tent at the Belmont Farmers’ Market.

Last year, the market matched close to $1,000 in purchases. Matching funds have come from generous donations and grant funds.