Each weekend, local small businesses head to Russell’s Garden Center’s annual Winter Farmers Market to sell a variety of goods. The products range from baked goods to ice cream to fresh produce. The market is open every Saturday from 10:30 p.m. to 2 p.m..
Some small businesses now use local farmers markets as a way to recover and revamp their businesses after COVID-19 took a hit on many of them. Some food markets got shut down because of the pandemic due to problems with social distancing and sanitation precautions.
“Once COVID hit, it kind of slowed down the restaurant business, so we shifted to selling package dumplings at farmers markets,” Mei Mei Dumpling employee Angelle Castro said.
Mei Mei Dumpling, a “woman owned” and “farm focused” business that sells multiple different flavors of dumplings, began as a food truck. When their business started to grow, the owners opened a restaurant in Fenway. After seven years, when COVID-19 hit, they had to close in 2020.
“Since [our restaurant closed] we’ve been at farmers markets and we reopened our restaurant in South Boston in 2021 or 2022,” Castro said.
Mei Mei Dumpling used the opportunity of local farmers markets to expand their business and make more revenue so they could continue their restaurants and reopen at a new location.
Some businesses use their popularity to help support local farmers markets by promoting their products, which gains publicity and brings more people into the market.
“We’re here at the farmers market today to support the farmers market and introduce small flavors,” Founder of Rancatore’s Ice Cream and Yogurt Joe Rancatore said.
While some vendors join the farmers market to promote and advertise their businesses, Rancatore’s is here by request of a close connection of an old classmate, who is now working for Russell’s.
“Peg Mallett, who is in charge of the farmers market, is a former high school classmate of mine from St. Louis, Missouri.” Rancatore said. “That’s why it was just adorable to catch up with an old high school friend you haven’t seen for 30 years.”
Along with many different types of pre-made foods and baked goods, farmers markets provide opportunities for shoppers to have an easy supply of fresh, local and in-season produce.
“I did balance out my shopping trip with a lot of really nice fruits and vegetables that are in season,” Suzanne Tandon, a frequent shopper at the Russell’s Farmers Market said.
Smith’s Country Cheese is a local cheese shop, producing cheese and milk products from over 200 cows. They sell their products wholesale at restaurants and small markets like Russell’s Winter Market.
“I just want to encourage people to try local cheese,” owner of Smith’s Country Cheese Allie Catlin said. “It tastes different and better, it’s fresher.”
Say Cheese!, a food truck that specializes in grilled cheeses, visited the farmers market aswell. Say Cheese! travels and can be found all over New England.
“Outside there’s the grilled cheese truck, which is a great place to get a sandwich,” Tandon said.
The Russell’s Garder Center Winter Farmers Market brings the community together with family and friends, neighbors, classmates and colleagues, all shopping or even selling together.
“It’s really nice because today it’s snowing and it’s a nice place to see your neighbors,” Tandon said.
