CitySeed’s '17 Summer Market Season Kicks Into High Gear

From CitySeed: One of the only farmers’ markets operating year-round in Connecticut, CitySeed’s 2017 Market Season is poised to reach its peak level of operation during the height of the summer, with four Farmers’ Markets and a Mobile Market in full swing during July and August.

Weekend Farmers’ Markets at Wooster Square and Edgewood Park have been going strong since early April and May, respectively. Downtown Farmers’ Market launched in front of City Hall earlier this month, on Wednesday, June 14th. CitySeed’s Mobile Market, its farm-stand on wheels, hits the street on July 5th, and the Fair Haven Farmers’ Market kicks off at Quinnipiac River Park on Thursday, July 6th.

This year’s Downtown Farmers’ Market features a tasty array of lunchtime dining options appealing to hungry business district workers and visitors alike from 11am-3pm. Patio tables and seating, generously donated by Town Green District, are also available for the convenience of al fresco lunch-goers.

New vendors at the Downtown Market this year include Small Kitchen Big Taste, offering healthy, delicious prepared lunch items with local ingredients, such as vegetable frittatas and tartines, summery fruit and veggie salads and fresh fruit bars. Rotating guest vendors include Sweet Treats by Sonia, featuring handcrafted baked goods, and the Drunk Alpaca, incorporating local brewery beers into many of its products, including beer-infused chips, nuts and muffins. Caseus Cheese Truck’s artisan grilled cheese and Chief Brody's Banh Mi, Vietnamese-French sandwiches of assorted meats, pickled vegetables and piquant sauces, round out the regular food truck lunch choices. Gentle Giant Farm’s organic selections include a variety of “staple” summer veggies, as well as single-serve, lunch-ready baby greens. Additional seasonal vegetable and fruit growers include South Glastonbury Growers Association and Cecarelli Farm. Cecarelli Farm and Hindinger Farm are the lead vendors at the Fair Haven Farmers’ Market on Thursday afternoons from 3-6pm.

Across Church Street on the New Haven Green, Town Green District presents the 17th annual lunchtime summer concert series, Blues, Berries and Jam, eight weeks of wonderful performances by Connecticut musicians produced by Ultra Radio. The concert series, sponsored by Jordan’s Furniture, runs on Wednesdays during the Farmers’ Market from July 12th through August 30th, 12pm-1:30pm. Downtown patrons can shop the market for lunch options and weekly seasonal produce, then pull up a chair on the Green to enjoy a mid-day meal and live music. Concert line-up is available at infonewhaven.com.

CitySeed’s Mobile Market, operated in partnership with Common Ground High School, brings fresh produce at affordable prices from Common Ground’s Urban Farm and other local farms directly to those in New Haven neighborhoods with limited access. Regular Mobile Market stops include The Hill at Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center, Bella Vista Senior Living, and West Rock at Wilmont Crossing Senior Living, and set locations in the West River and Dixwell neighborhoods. A new stop at Career High School, adjacent to New Haven Farm’s latest farm site, Hill Farm, is planned as well. Stops at additional senior housing sites are also scheduled on an intermittent basis.

All CitySeed Farmers’ Markets and Mobile Market accept Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), Senior FMNP coupons, and SNAP (food stamp) benefits. CitySeed also offers a Double Value Coupon Program, a nutrition incentive that enables SNAP recipients to double their money, dollar for dollar, at all CitySeed Markets – up to $10 buys $20 of CT-grown fruit, vegetables, seedlings, or canned fruits and vegetables at each market each week. Visit the CitySeed information tent for more information.

Common Ground High School & Urban Farm is a center for environmental learning and leadership operating a working organic farm in New Haven. Common Ground also provides the Mobile Market with student workers from their Green Jobs Corps, a youth employment and leadership development program that links students with meaningful, paid work.

In addition to supporting local agriculture, health equity is a primary focus of CitySeed’s work. We enhance access to healthy food through a series of Farmers’ Markets structured for all income levels, a Mobile Farmers’ Market, SNAP Double Value Coupon Program, community-based cooking and education programs through Kitchen at CitySeed and Sanctuary Kitchen, policy work and other food-related programs. For more information visit www.cityseed.org.

Photo courtesy of CitySeed