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

• Boston Smoked Fish Co,
• Couët Farm & Fromagerie,
• Dick’s Market Garden, 
• Flats Mentor Farm,
• Foxboro Cheese Co.,
• Goodies Homemade,
• Hutchins Farm,
• Kimball Fruit Farm,
• Mamadou’s Artisan Bakery,
• Nicewicz Family Farm,
• Red’s Best,
• sfolia baking company,
• Stillman Quality Meats

OCCASIONAL VENDORS

• Belmont Acres Farm,
• Julia Cooks,
• Valicenti Pasta Farm,
• Westport Rivers Vineyard & Winery

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.

• Pop-Up Library at the Market

• 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. 

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.

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.

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.

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!” 

• 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

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.

• 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

• 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Belmont clay and glass art studio Indigo Fire will demonstrate clay work techniques.
• 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Story time. The Belmont Public Library is back for their weekly story time with stories and songs about farms and food.
• 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Kids cooking magazine ChopChop will be leading fun, food-related activities for kids, as well as giving away seed packets and copies of the magazine.