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.