The Egleston Square Farmers Market, originally intended as a winter-only market, is such a hit that it will now run every season except the spring.
The winter farmers market, which takes place indoors at Our Lady of Lourdes Church Parish Hall at 45 Brookside Ave., had its debut Nov. 10. Kate Peppard, a JP resident and market coordinator for Egleston Farmers Market, said about 1,200 people attended the debut, with the following ones averaging around 450 to 500 people.
“Our original intent was to have this be a winter market, but because of the community response, we are planning to open again in June and run the market through February,” said Peppard.
She said the market had been fortunate with the weather for most of the winter, but that luck recently ran out as a “snow day” was called for Feb. 9. Because of that, the market’s season has been extended one week, running every Saturday from now until March 2. After that, the market will close until June.
“Year-round is not yet a part of our plan, but this is a truly organic endeavor, and if it ever gets to a point that the community wants to see that happen, we would find a way to respond to it,” said Peppard.
The Egleston Farmers Market will look to keep the successful trend going Feb. 16, hosting a “seafood throw down.”
The “throw down” will feature two chefs, Marcos Santos from Jamaica Plain-based Tres Gatos and Irene Li from the Mei Mei Street Kitchen food truck, who will shop at the market and then cook up a meal for judges to sample.
“We thought it would be great to bring in some local culinary talent to share their skills and inspired cooking with our neighbors,”. “We thought it would be a lot of fun to stage a cook off between a brick-and-mortar chef and a mobile cook.”
Local City Councilor Felix Arroyo will emcee the “throw down,” while several JP residents will serve as judges, including local state Rep. Liz Malia, David Warner of City Feed and Supply and Justin Dunk of Ula Cafe.
The “throw down” is part of an event called “Celebrating the Fruits of our Ocean,” which is to educate people on the benefits of sustainable fishing operations, the health benefits of fish and to celebrate local farmers markets, said Peppard. The event is co-sponsored by the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance; the Boston Collaborative for Food and Fitness; and Health Care Without Harm.
For more information, visit eglestonfarmersmarket.org.