BFM 9/12/21 BFM 9/12/21

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.

BFM 7/27/21 BFM 7/27/21

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! — 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 — “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!