Tita's Corner vendor profile
Chef and owner Benedicta Varas is fulfilling her dream of bringing authentic Chilean food to her local community and now, you can enjoy it, too! Tita’s Corner boasts a menu of meals, sides, desserts, and more—all inspired by generations of shared culture, celebrations, and traditions.
“Chilean food is simple and rich in flavors, featuring a variety of vegetables, seafood, beef, with citrus hints, herbs and spices. Its primary influence is the cuisine of Spain, blended with Chilean indigenous and other European cuisine.”
B-Organic vendor profile
A new vendor for 2022. B-Organic, our only non-food vendor, brings everything you need to keep your Market purchases as fresh as possible. These beautiful products make it easy to get excited about storing your food.
Produce bags, organic soaps, tote bags and organic fruit fly bags—they are all created using repurposed food that would’ve otherwise been wasted.
Visit B-Organic to stock up as we all continue the mission to reduce single-use plastics and food waste!
They’ll be with us through June, 2022. You may also visit them online.
Food Assistance Information Fair on Opening Day 2022 – press release
Opening Day 2022 features a Food Assistance Information Fair. Find out about food insecurity in Belmont, and how to stretch food budgets to combat it. We’ll have representatives from statewide and local organizations to talk with you while you shop. June 2, 2022, 2:00 – 6:30pm.
Belmont Farmers’ Market opening day features Food Assistance Information Fair
Local and statewide agencies to provide information about food benefit programs
Belmont, MA – Belmont Farmers' Market (BFM) will have a Food Assistance Information Fair as part of their Opening Day celebration on June 2, 2022. Representatives from local and statewide agencies will talk to people facing food insecurity about ways to boost their food budgets.
In 2021, food assistance at BFM added over $37,000 to the budgets of shoppers who need financial assistance to buy food for their families. Spending those additional funds at the Market also supported local farms and businesses.
“Ordinarily, I have to make choices between eating properly and other medical needs. The matching funds program has met a real need for me that I am unable to meet through other sources.” – Shopper comment
Opening Day schedule
The ribbon-cutting ceremony starts at 1:45 pm. The Market and the Food Assistance Information Fair run from 2:00 until 6:30. BFM operates in the Belmont Center parking lot behind Leonard St.
“As a physician, I believe it’s important that everyone have access to the freshest food, because it’s packed with nutrients. I also appreciate that our food support allows all shoppers to participate in the sense of community at the Market.” — Suzanne Johannet, MD, president of the Belmont Food Collaborative, parent organization of BFM.
About the food assistance programs
BFM’s food assistance doubles SNAP benefits (formerly Food Stamps) up to $25 weekly for each shopper. They’re one of the few farmers’ markets that double Farmers Market Nutrition Program coupons (FMNP) for eligible seniors and WIC families. Three of the Market’s farmers are in the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), which puts money back on shoppers’ EBT cards when they buy healthy, local produce from HIP farm vendors.
2021 food assistance summary: $16,300 in matching funds for SNAP and FMNP. About $21,000 in produce purchased from HIP farmers. Donations to BFM pay for matching, while the Commonwealth reimburses vendors for HIP purchases.
The Information Fair will help people learn about their eligibility for food programs. But BFM wants everyone to know about these programs. Even in Belmont, often thought of as a prosperous town, there are many people who need to stretch their budgets to buy enough healthy food for their families.
From 2019 to 2021, Belmont households receiving SNAP benefits increased by almost 50%. During that time, BFM’s SNAP match increased by over 150%.
Participants
The Information Fair will include representatives of statewide and local organizations, each of which supports people in different ways.
The Belmont Food Pantry will hold a food drive. Belmont Farmers’ Market will accept financial donations to support their programs, including SNAP and FMNP coupon matching.
Expected participants in the Belmont Farmers’ Market Food Assistance Information Fair:
Rebecca Davidson, Coordinator, Mass. Department of Agricultural Resource FMNP program
Dalia Cohen, Director of Nutrition, Springwell
Marc Daniel Aubourg, Community Outreach Coordinator, Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA)
Leah Schenkel, Manager of Hotline Outreach, Project Bread
Laurie Graham, Board Member, Belmont Food Pantry
Amy Kirsch, Co-Founder, Belmont Helps
“The financial help with the matching is great. I was able to eat well because of your market.” – Shopper comment
About Belmont Farmers’ Market
Belmont Farmers' Market is a project of the Belmont Food Collaborative, a non-profit organization in Belmont, MA. The Market offers great local food, community information, Storytime for kids, and lively music and events, all in a friendly environment. The Market began in 2006, growing each year by adding vendors in different categories and from many cultures. Shoppers can find a variety of fresh local produce, along with prepared food to heat and serve; meat, fish, and dairy; baked goods; and so much more.
Get more information about the food assistance program at the Manager’s Tent at the Market, or online at BelmontFarmersMarket.org/food-assistance.
Located in the Belmont Center parking lot, Belmont, MA, the Market takes place on Thursdays, 2–6:30 pm, starting June 2, 2022 (Use 10 Claflin St, Belmont, MA, in your GPS.)
About Belmont Food Collaborative, Inc.
Founded in 2009, Belmont Food Collaborative’s mission includes charitable and educational activities focused on healthy food, nutrition, and local and sustainable farming. Major projects include Belmont Helps, Belmont Composts!, and the Belmont Farmers’ Market.
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Vendor profile: Merton's Maple Syrup
We are happy to welcome Merton's Maple Syrup to the market this year. Located five miles from the village of Putney, Vermont, Tim Merton’s sugarhouse is 150 years old, and still producing great maple syrup!
Although there are many innovations in the sugarhouse Merton still boils with wood cut from the thinning of the sugar bush. This self-sustaining system has been practiced for several hundred years by New England sugar-makers although many these days use oil-fired evaporators.
The maple syrup produced on the farm is not certified organic, but is made without additives of any kind. The sap from the 4000 taps (holes drilled each spring in the trees) is boiled and filtered to make 100% pure syrup. The tapping of the maples begins in mid-February. As soon as the days warm up to 40 degrees and the nights freeze again the sap will run from the trees into holding tanks. Then the process of boiling begins that turns the sap into delicious maple syrup.
Grade A medium amber is slightly lighter in flavor and color and great for all around use. The darker and stronger flavored Grade A very dark syrups are produced towards the end of the sugaring season. Some people like the light and some the dark- it all depends on your taste!
Vendor Profile: Hutchins Farm
Hutchins Farm is one of the oldest and largest certified organic vegetable and fruit operations in Massachusetts. Organic since 1973, every season Hutchins actively cultivates over 35 acres of vegetables, about an acre of small fruit, and 8 acres of apples. With a strong commitment to sustainability, this family-owned operation sits on historic land which has been farmed since the 1700’s (and, by the same family since 1895!)
The experts at Hutchins have so much to share—learn more about their seasonal offerings, how to store produce through the winter, and more on their website.
Visit them each week during the Market season. They sell seedlings at their farmstand in Concord during the spring.
Vendor profile: House Bear Brewing
House Bear Brewing
Established in 2013 by Beth Borges and Carl Hirschfeld, House Bear Brewing specializes in home brewing one of the world’s oldest fermented beverages: mead.
While many are familiar with beer (fermented grains) and wine (fermented grapes), mead is produced by fermenting the sugars in honey. This is a truly local product, with most honey being sourced from Massachusetts apiaries in Billericaand Ipswich, MA, and a few specialty varietals from Mount Airy, Maryland.
House Bear Brewing offers a range of flavors, all-gluten free, which can be picked up at our market. Order ahead for pickup or visit us between 2:00-6:00 pm to pick up a few bottles. Look at their website to find out about where to get it in the offseason.
Vendor profile: Merton's Maple Syrup
Along the Connecticut River near the village of Putney, Vermont, Merton’s Maple Syrup produces a range of uniquely delicious maple syrups, sugars, and other products. Owner and operator Tim Merton practices a self-sustaining syrup-making process which has been used for hundreds of years across New England.
Don’t miss your chance to bring home these delicious additions to your breakfast, baked goods, and much more at the Market this week!
Tim Merton during National Farmers Market Week
Try maple syrup, spreads and other products
Farmers’ Markets stimulate local economies: BFM & Mei Mei
The 2021 season is the second one that Mei Mei has been at the Belmont Farmers' Market
Farmers’ markets stimulate local economies because the money you spend goes to local businesses. And they’re a great way for creative people to explore new business ideas. Here’s one case where we at the Belmont Farmers' Market were able to help a local business owner reinvent her company.
Mei Mei was a great restaurant in Boston founded by Irene Li and her siblings. As the website says, “They took the food they loved as children, added modern elements and the experiences of the present, and also incorporated practices that fit with their vision of how to do business for a sustainable future.” It was very popular, and they were thinking of opening more restaurants.
Then the pandemic hit.
Shortly afterward, Irene realized that Mei Mei couldn’t continue as a restaurant. She and her team were trying to figure out what it would be. Coincidentally, we invited her to join the Belmont Farmers' Market toward the end of the 2020 Market season.
In a recent article in The Counter, Irene wrote this about that invitation:
The turning point was when we had a regular customer who sent us an email asking if we would want to come sell any of our prepared foods at the farmers’ market. We gave it a shot starting in September.
The farmers’ market honestly felt like a gift from whoever in heaven is running things. People were so happy to have us there, and it was such a controlled environment for safe human interaction. It just felt like magic. We started putting feelers out to join other farmers’ markets. And it snowballed from there. That is when we started thinking about a future that was not as a restaurant and that would be as a packaged foods company.
Irene Li, and Mei Mei’s wonderful dumplings
We’re not showing off (well, just a little), but that first farmers’ market was us. We could say that we knew about the problems they were having and we wanted to help them. And that was part of it. But Belmont Farmers' Market is a business, too, and we only invite vendors that we think will fit in and do well.
We contacted Mei Mei because we knew how great the food is, because their vision of local sustainable food matched ours, and because Irene and her staff were all welcoming and friendly. Those are the qualities we want in our vendors, because our Market is more than a place to get great food, it’s welcoming part of the local community.
When you shop at your local farmers' market, you’re supporting businesses like Mei Mei. And so many other local farmers and producers who grow and make great food.
Belmont Farmers’ Market is open on through October 28, 2021, on Thursdays from 2:00 – 6:30 pm (6:00 in October). Find us in the Belmont Center parking lot, 10 Claflin St, Belmont, MA 02478.
Farmers' Markets are essential: National Farmers’ Market Week 2021
This is the information we published on social media during National Farmers’ Market Week in 2021.
#FarmersMarketWeek #FarmersMarketsAreEssential #LoveMyMarket
The Belmont Farmers' Market brings the community together with nutritious food, Storytime for kids, community information for all, and events for entertainment. It’s a great community event, every week.
Farmers' markets support local farmers and producers, helping them start and build businesses. We have over two dozen vendors – independent farmers and local small business people.
And where did you feel most comfortable shopping when the pandemic started? Outdoors at the Belmont Farmers' Market!
"When you're fairly new to magic, taking the leap into paid shows can be tough. This is the situation I faced when I was 14 years old.
"Luckily for me, there was the Belmont Farmers Market. They were happy to have me perform several times a year for the children and parents of Belmont, and I, working for tips, was more than excited to get real-world performing experience. Every show, I would hand out homemade business cards in the hopes of drumming up some shows. And it worked! I soon began receiving emails from moms who had seen me at the market, hoping to book me for their children's birthdays.
"That was the start to what is today my full time career. In any job, getting that initial momentum is a daunting task. The Belmont Farmers Market gave me a great start."
ryan@ryanlallymagic.com, RyanLallyMagic.com
“We at Hillside Harvest really love coming to farmers' markets. We sell into retail stores, so we don’t get a lot of opportunity to talk directly to our consumers.
“Farmers' markets are a great chance for us to hear what they like about our products, and what they don’t like. And we’re able to act pretty quickly to promote things that are working, and remove things that aren’t.
“And it’s a great way to connect with the community as well.
“We think farmers' markets are pretty important!”
Info@HillsideSauce.com, HillsideSauce.com
“Farmers’ Markets are great for a number of reasons. As a consumer, I like to know who’s doing my food, or who made my granola, or who made my hot sauce. And it’s really cool to hear some of the stories behind these people that are bringing us food.
“As a vendor, we enjoy the farmers' market because we’re face to face with our customers. We really get to know why they’re eating microgreens, and sometimes even how they’re using microgreens, and it’s very valuable feedback for us. We like to understand how we can better fulfill their needs.
“Right now, we’re at the Belmont Farmers' Market. We’re here every week and we really enjoy getting to know everyone, and we feel that we’re making a difference in their wellbeing.
“I also think the markets are great because they brings people together. The market staff here is super friendly, and we have a lot of cool events. It’s really nice when people gather. It makes you feel like you’re at home.
“I think the farmers' markets are great, and we need to do as much as we can to keep them alive.”
hello@giantgorillagreens.com, ggg.earth
"We just started Round Table Farm about four months ago. We both love doing farmers' markets, but we didn’t think that we’d be able to get all of our paperwork, permitting and all of that in time to apply. But the Belmont Farmers’ Market reached out to us. We responded that we’d love to, but that we’d need a little bit of patience while we got everything together. Knowing that they were reaching out to us really made it possible for us to be here – knowing that they had the patience to let us get set up and make sure that we had everything in line.
"It’s an amazing community to be part of. There are so many people who are regulars, who come week after week, and it’s been fun to see their reaction to the cheese.
"In about two weeks [early August], we’ll be introducing the first cheese that we have made, and we’re really excited to share it with the community and get their feedback."
howdy@roundtable.farm, RoundTable.Farm
“I love coming to the Belmont Farmers' Market, because it’s about community, it’s about bringing food to the community. It’s about bringing something authentic, delicious, and flavorful that maybe you don’t find in other places.
“This market, and other local farmers' markets, have helped me build my business, to be able to bring great food to this community, and the communities around me. And I appreciate every bit of it.”
amanda@txmexeats.com, TxMexEats.com
"I’ve really been able to connect with the community of Belmont. People come out and tell me how great the hummus is, and I say “It’s the best hummus you’re ever going to eat!” And that’s why I keep coming back. The community loves it, I love it, and it’s nice to get the feedback from people here in Belmont."
JustHummusBoston.com
Food assistance benefits, including SNAP matching and free produce through the HIP program, are only available through farmers' markets! We matched over $11,000 in benefits in 2020!
Imagine what would happen if our four farms closed. All that beautiful land could be developed instead of being open!
“BFM serves a unique need of gathering as a community + interacting with the farmers who we enjoy supporting!” – Shopper comment
We have over 2 dozen local businesses at the Belmont Farmers' Market. Farmers' markets help small business get started and sell directly to consumers.
Even in the face of a global pandemic, our market staff adapted to follow state & local guidelines to keep our community safe. Shoppers flocked to the Market in 2020 because shopping outdoors is safer. And they’re still coming in big numbers!
Our shoppers love the Market!
Vendor Profile: Dulce D Leche
Looking to satisfy a sweet craving or bring a delicious treat to family and friends? Dulce D Leche will have you covered at the Market every other week!
Inspired by the irresistible gelato they first enjoyed in Buenos Aires, Samy and Jules spent years evolving their recipe until they became “one of the rare gelato shops to make gelato truly from scratch in a pasteurizer, and virtually the only one with lactose-free gelato.” Over time, dedication and creativity allowed Dulce D Leche to evolve into new culinary favorites like chocolates, croissants, and savory meals.
Dulce D Leche will bring gelato, savory croissants, pies, and more. Many of these treats are accessible to those with dietary restrictions and preferences such as gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian.
Dulce D Leche will return every other week through October.
Vendor Profile: Papa's Ravioli
Making ravioli. Come on down to the Belmont Farmers' Market and try some!
Papa’s Ravioli, owned and operated by Chef Cyrille Couet, joined the Belmont Farmers' Market on July 22, 2021, bringing fresh, handmade, artisanal ravioli and so much more!
Chef Cyrille is a native of the Loire Valley, and started cooking in his uncle’s restaurant at the age of 13. Since then, he has worked behind stoves in Europe, the West Indies and the U.S. Chef Cyrille’s robust resume showcases his experience as executive chef, opening chef, and chef/owner of landmark restaurants around Greater Boston.
Chef Cyrille Couet
Papa’s Ravioli offers one meat, one vegetarian, and one seafood option each week, in addition to the Four Cheese Ravioli. All raviolis are sold by the dozen, enough for two adults, and are paired with a sauce which is provided on the side. Papa’s Ravioli also offers appetizers, desserts, and extra sauce for your raviolis.
Papa’s Ravioli will be at the Market on July 22, returning every other week for the rest of the 2021 season.
Vendor profile: Drew's Stews & More
Vendor Profile: Drew's Stews & More
Using only the finest all-natural ingredients that are locally sourced as often as possible, Drew’s Stews & More and soups are slow-cooked to pretty near perfection, tasty and good for your heart and soul! These hand-crafted and healthy soups, suppers, and sides will fit into your mealtime routines perfectly.
While living and traveling throughout the Netherlands, Drew discovered a love for the ingredients he could source through local produce and organic meat markets—they became integral to his cooking. Now with a family of his own, he believes in the importance of ensuring these wholesome and natural meals for all.
Each purchase also does good for the community. A percentage of all proceeds will be donated to Rosie's Place, a sanctuary for poor and homeless women.
Drew’s Stews & More is at the Market every other week in 2021.
Vendor profile: Round Table Farm
Archer & Marlo of Round Table Farm
Round Table Farm is a brand new farm started in April of 2021 by Marlo Stein and Archer Meier, two young farmers who have over a decade of farming experience combined and have worked on farms throughout New England and the Midwest. Archer and Marlo are both proud queer and Jewish farmers who are passionate about building community, crafting beautiful products, and working in tandem with the land. They feel fortunate to be the new stewards of the historic Robinson farm over in Hardwick, which was in the Robinson family for five generations. Most recently, the Robinsons had been milking cows, making artisan aged raw milk cheese, and growing hay to feed their herd.
Cheese and cow
Here at Round Table Farm, Archer and Marlo are continuing on with the visions of sustainability, beauty, and connection with the land that the Robinsons maintained for centuries. They are currently selling the remaining Robinson cheese inventory and have started making their own raw milk aged cheese under the guidance of Ray, the previous cheesemaker. There are only two cows at Round Table Farm at the moment, so they are starting off by hauling in milk from Smith's Country Cheese up in Winchendon - who are also fantastic cheesemakers that care about milking cows that make the best cheese!
Some of the flowers they brought to the Belmont Farmers' Market in June
Round Table Farm is shifting gears a little bit to also include growing specialty cut flowers, which many of you have already seen at the Belmont Farmers' Market. Various bouquets will be available throughout the season depending on what's blooming!
If you're particularly excited about Round Table's flowers (or know somebody who is), they're also offering a 10-week pre-paid flower subscription starting in July - that way you can guarantee a bouquet and will never have to worry about making it to market before they sell out!
Round Table Farm will be at Belmont Farmers' Market every week, now offering samples!
Virtual Farmers' Market Storytime
The Belmont Public Library is hosting virtual storytime on Wednesdays, from 10:00 - 10:30am. Celebrate the Belmont Farmers' Market with stories about great food and summer fun. For ages 2 to 6. Register online to save your spot. each week.
We’re starting the season with Covid-19 safety rules in place. There are fewer than last year, but we want to make everyone feel as safe and comfortable as possible.
Perhaps we’ll get back to in-person Storytime and other events during the season.
Planting garlic in November
Volunteers Jenny and Suzanne visited the Belmont Food Collaborative plot at the Rock Meadow Garden in the fall, to take advantage of one of those warm afternoons and put garlic in the ground for next summer’s crop.
Just before the ground froze for the long winter months, we started next spring’s new growth. We chose the largest cloves from last summer’s crop to plant.
We cleared the bed of weeds, leaves and plant debris, and raked it smooth. Then we marked out a grid 6 inches by 6 inches and placed each clove in a hole about 4 inches deep. The cloves went in base down and tip up.
After covering them with soil, we added a light layer of compost, to help feed the garlic. Then we spread a layer of salt marsh hay over the bed, again, about 6 inches high. The salt marsh hay is intended to protect the garlic from repeated freeze/thaw cycles during the winter. We could have waited for the ground to freeze before spreading the hay, thus insulating the frozen ground. But we were worried we might forget, and it’s always worked to spread the hay at the time of planting.
The cloves will begin putting down roots, and the tips will start to grow in the spring. We use stiffneck varieties, so the earliest product of the plants will be the scapes they put out in early summer.
Read more about how to plant garlic on the Community Growing website.
Food assistance organizations
These local organizations provide food assistance to those in need
Find out more about these organizations, and support them if you are able.
Belmont Food Pantry provides a range of non-perishable food and some seasonal perishable foods to residents of Belmont in need.
Belmont Helps! provides emergency aid with the utmost confidentiality, including groceries, meals, technical assistance, mask drives, phone buddies, tasks and more.
Boston Area Gleaners rescue fresh food from farms and get it to people who need it.
Food Link is a community organization that rescues fresh food, alleviates hunger, and contributes to environmental sustainability.
The Food Project has a mission to create a thoughtful and productive community of youth and adults from diverse backgrounds who work together to build a sustainable food system.
Project Restore Us partners with restaurants to supply groceries to worker families in partnership with community organizations
Food assistance at the Market
Increasing access to fresh local food.
Belmont Farmers' Market has a great food assistance program, thanks to the generosity of our donors and sponsors.
SNAP benefit match (formerly Food Stamps) up to $20 per shopper each week
WIC FMNP coupon match (for moms and infants)
Senior FMNP coupon match (for qualifying seniors)
Most of our farmers accept HIP (Healthy Incentives Program), which offers free produce to SNAP users
See our food assistance page for details and make a donation to support our programs.
In the 2020 season, we matched almost $10,000 in SNAP benefits, and almost $2000 in FMNP coupons. We’re glad to give local families more access to fresh local food, and to support our vendors at the same time.
“Farmers markets are making real strides in increasing fresh food access for low income SNAP participants. $24.4 million in SNAP benefits were redeemed at farmers markets across the US in 2017, a 35.2% increase from 2012. This dramatic increase can be attributed to markets investing in innovative outreach, education, and incentive programs, and support from federal, state, and local government.” Source: Farmers Market Coalition.
Can you help? Our ability to improve our neighbors' access to fresh fruit and vegetables depends on your donations. Please consider donating through our parent organization, The Belmont Food Collaborative. Thank you for your ongoing support.
Curbside composting in Belmont
The Town of Belmont is partnering with Black Earth Compost to offer a once-a-week household curbside food waste collection service.
Black Earth Composting is giving Belmont a volume discount. There are currently 783 Belmont subscriptions paying $49.99 for six months [as of mid-March 2021]. The cost per Belmont household will go down even more as more people sign up. When 1,500 households are enrolled in the program, the price will fall to $44.99 for six months. Also included with every subscription, you will receive a voucher for a 10 lbs. bag of finished compost, redeemable at Wagon Wheel in Lexington.
Belmont Composts! is part of the Belmont Food Collaborative, the parent organization of the Belmont Farmers Market. Belmont Composts began in 2018 with the mission to reduce Belmont’s trash by increasing curbside composting.
Get more information or sign up for Black Earth Compost today!
National Magic Week, Oct 25–31, 2020
Ryan Lally, one of our favorite Events Tent performers
One of our favorite Events Tent performers, Watertown native Ryan Lally is a professional magician. He has been performing shows, from corporate functions to theatrical productions, for over a decade.
Ryan wrote an article in the Citizen Herald about National Magic Week.
Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to have magic, music, Storytime or other events during the pandemic. And we miss performers like Ryan, who’s been at the Market for years. We look forward to his return!