Sustainable Braintree

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Sustainable Braintree
1 JFK Memorial Drive
Braintree MA, 02184
 
 
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Farmers Market Press Release and Farmer/Vendor Lineup for the 2009 Season

 
 
While many of you have been snuggled in for the winter season members of Sustainable Braintree, Inc. and the Braintree Farmers' Market Committee have been diligently organizing a farmers' market that will bring a very diverse group of farmers and vendors that specialize in growing and making local foods to Braintree.  We are confident that it will become a treasured resource for the community.  Based upon the overwhelming response that we received from surveys and emails our committee has been working towards the goal of opening a market for the 2009 season.  The mission has been to develop a market that is "of the people, by the people, for the people".  Based on survey responses from the community we have gathered farmers and vendors together in a market that promises to cater to nearly every customer’s desire.

 

The Braintree Farmers' Market hosted by Sustainable Braintree, Inc. will open on June 27th and will operate every Saturday morning through October 31st at the Braintree Town Hall Mall at One JFK Memorial Drive.  The market will be held rain or shine from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Locally grown and made products available at the market will include vegetables and fruits, locally raised, hormone-free beef & pork, fresh local seafood, gourmet pies, eggs, honey, artisan breads, pastries, jams, jellies, locally made cheeses, granola, plants, flowers, herbs, gourmet cupcakes, preserves, fresh pasta, pesto, salsa, local pottery and much more.  Please join us on Saturday mornings at the market as this event will only thrive with everyone's support.

 
FARMER/VENDOR LINEUP FOR THE 2009 SEASON
 

 

C.N. Smith Farm  is a 90+ acre farm located in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts, which has been family owned and operated farm for over 80 years.  They are the third generation of farmers carrying on the tradition of providing only their own, in-season locally grown fruit and produce while maintaining open space and farmland.  All of their products have been planted, grown, and harvested in their own local fields.  In addition to several varieties of apples and berries, they cultivate and harvest their own tomatoes, asparagus, lettuce, corn, peaches, plums, nectarines, pears, and more.

 

The Farmer's Garden  is a 35 acre farm located in Rehoboth, Massachusetts.  This farm is owned and operated by the Noons family which has been farming in Rehoboth for generations.  Steve and Tammy Noons continue the family tradition and passion for farming by dedicating themselves to producing the highest quality and great tasting vegetables.  Some of the produce you can expect include broccoli, snap peas, cabbage, lettuce, swiss chard, radishes, mixed greens, kale, beets, melons, sweet corn, cucumbers, heirloom tomatoes, sweet bell peppers, potatoes, eggplant,  zucchini and summer squash and much more.

 

Saja Farm  is a 68 acre organic farm located in Dracut, Massachusetts.  Owner/farmer Caroline Zuk is passionate about her produce!  If you are looking for produce grown organically, without the use of harsh non-organic chemicals and inputs, then Saja Farm is perfect for your discerning palate! They grow vegetables the old fashioned way, just like their grandparents did in 1915.  Saja Farm is currently working with an organic certifying agency to achieve official organic certification.  This farm will be producing lettuce, spinach, herbs, green and yellow wax beans, cauliflower, Asian greens and vegetables, several varieties of squashes and tomatoes, peppers, farm fresh eggs, honey and much more!

 

Ever So Humble Pie Company bakes up traditional, home-style fruit pies reminiscent of a by-gone era.  All of their products are made from scratch and carefully hand-crafted with old-fashioned goodness in every bite.  In addition to their fruit pies, they make whoopie pies, hermits and giant cookies (chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and sugar cookies).  AND, the most exciting news is that they will have some Gluten Free items as well!  Their products are made without the use of hydrogenated oils or trans fats.  They use locally grown produce as much as possible to help sustain local agriculture.  Try them once and you'll be hooked!

 

Gourmet & Gourmand  is a small artisan food producer specializing in breads, pastries, biscotti, jams & jellies, and meals to go. They use local and organic ingredients whenever possible in all of their products which are made by hand on-site in their commercial kitchen.  We can expect to see several varieties of breads, savory tarts, soups, fresh pastas, pesto and salsas.  Yum!

 

The Best Damn Granola Company ~granola with attitude~is a family owned and operated granola company that started in May of 2008 and just celebrated its 1st birthday.  They use local, organic and fair trade ingredients in all of their granolas. They offer 3 yummy flavors Fig N' Nuts Organic fruits and nuts blended with "special spices" for that homestyle taste. Jammin' Organic peanut butter blended with classic jam fruits for that PB&J taste that will bring out the kid in you. Currantly Nuts A perfect blend of organic currants, cranberries, and nuts with just a hint of almond. Are you currantly nuts? They are! Meet the attitudes at www.thebestdamngranola.com

 

Shy Brothers Cheese : thimbles or buttons? Hannahbells are tiny artisanal cheeses hand made by the very shy Santos brothers from their third-generation dairy farm in Westport, Massachusetts. Some folks call them thimbles. The French call them 'boutons de coulottes' or ‘trouser buttons.’ The brothers call them Hannahbells, after their mom!  A 2008 Gold Medal winner at the Big E cheese competition.  Find Shy Brothers Cheese @ The Best Damn Granola table as the brothers are too shy to make an appearance although their cheeses are 'melt in your mouth' memorable! .  Read all about them at www.shybrothersfarm.com

 

The Cupcakerie creates Gourmet Cupcakes that will send you 'over the Tobin'. 10-12 flavors-Always available. All of their mouth watering creations are made with the finest and freshest ingredients. The Cupcakerie pride themselves in using eggs and fresh, local produce from New England Farms. Flavors Include: vanilla, chocolate, carrot, red velvet, lemon with lemon butter cream, coconut with coconut cream cheese frosting, chocolate banana with dark chocolate ganache, grasshopper with mint butter cream, mocha with espresso cream cheese frosting, raspberry filled yellow cake with chocolate raspberry butter cream, vanilla rose with rose butter cream and lavender with vanilla bean butter cream. As we get closer to fall, the more summery flavors will be replaced with ones like pumpkin and caramel apple. Trust me-they taste even better than they sound!

 

 

Fresh Catch, Inc. will be selling fresh local seafood. They are currently applying to be included in the state's pilot program which will enable them to sell shellfish at our market. If they are successful in obtaining this permit Braintree's market would be one of only a few farmers' markets in Massachusetts this summer that will specifically allow shellfish to be sold. Can you say Clambake!

 

J.H. Beaulieu Livestock and Produce Farm will be selling USDA beef and pork that is hormone and antibiotic free which has been naturally grown and field raised.  Joe will also be offering potted and bagged herbs as well as edible and cut flowers.  This farmer has been working diligently to bring us his top-notch products!

 

Ric's Pantry is a Braintree based business.  Ricardo will be making Strawberry, Pear, Peach, Pumpkin and other jams from his family's recipes from their farm in Portugal. These jams are in the European style that is very flavorful with lots of fruit. Delish!

 

 

Equal Exchange  coffees, teas, sugars and chocolates will be sold by the All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church of Braintree. These are high quality products that are brought to us by a company that partners with small-scale farmer co-ops that are democratically organized. So although we can't necessarily grow these products close by, you can rest assured that they are brought to you by fair trade practices. All for one and one for all!

Local Pottery owner & potter, Lisa Howard has her studio in Pembroke and makes all of her pottery by hand using traditional techniques.  While each piece is highly decorated, the functional aspects are still her priority.  Her pieces are meant to be used and enjoyed.  Some of her most popular pieces are Asian-style tea bowls, sugar jars, berry bowls and large serving pieces.  After purchasing all your local foods at the market what better way to celebrate than to serve your bounty on an extraordinary plate or sip from a cup that is beautiful and unique and made right here on the South Shore!

 
The Community Table is available and provided by the Braintree Farmers' Market at no charge as a way to foster community awareness within the town.  Local non-profit organizations are encouraged to sign-up one market day per season to bring your group's mission into the forefront.  If your local non-profit group would like to staff our community table one Saturday during our market, please e-mail angelac@sustainablebraintree.org.  Don't miss out on this opportunity!

 
Sustainable Braintree Farmers' Market Table is provided to assist consumers and vendors while the market is running.  Check out our table for information about the market and and learn how to help us make Braintree sustainable and perhaps purchase a T-shirt to boot!  It's all good...

 

There are a few loose ends that we need your assistance with such as Resident Sign Sponsors who would be willing and committed to sponsor a market sign that would be put out in strategic areas around town on the morning of the market and picked up after the market has closed.  If you live near a spot that you feel is highly visible to traffic and would like to help us out in sponsoring a market sign please contact us at christines@sustainablebraintree.org.  If your business would like to become a market sponsor please contact us at food@sustainablebraintree.org.

 

In this time of economic instability and high gasoline prices all you need to do is click your heels together and chant, "There's no place like home, there's no place like home", and join us at the Braintree Farmers' Market starting on June 27th!  More vendors are signing up so we'll have some other products to entice and surprise you as the season moves ahead.  Special thanks to Sustainable Braintree, Inc., the Braintree Farmers' Market Committee, Jeff Cole from Mass Farmers' Markets, Lori Deliso from the Lexington Farmers' Market and Mayor Joseph Sullivan whose forward-thinking help and support have been essential in bringing this market to Braintree.  For more information go to our website at http://www.sustainablebraintree.org/food or contact us at food@sustainablebraintree.org"

 

Written and illustrated by Donna Ingemanson

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Donna Ingemanson

Braintree Farmers Market Organizer

781 848 2012