In a week when Boston’s Olympic quest ended the political establishment is celebrating a success: The long-awaited opening of Boston Public Market.
From fresh-picked corn to raw honey, is a foodie paradise. Everything here is local, from the cheese to the wine, to the fallen trees used to make the wares at a stand called Peterman’s Boards and Bowls.
“This is the third day and we’re doing quite well, so we figure we’ll probably have to hire a couple more bowl turners, another sander, another shipper,” said Michele Jurado of Peterman’s Board and Bowls.
Kim Jakshtis expects the market to be a game changer for her farm, allowing her to sell more in one place instead of traveling to separate local farmers markets.
“This was a dream of a group of local farmers and politicians 20 years ago to really bring fresh food to the Boston community, and it finally happened,” said Jakshtis.
The market is housed next door to the Haymarket T stop in a space built during the Big Dig to house airshafts. It’s been vacant for twelve years. So what took so long?
Liz Morningstar took over as CEO of the non-profit Boston Public Market Association two years ago. She raised ten-million-dollars in private funds , the state kicked in another six million. She says it’s a wise investment at a time when demand there’s a high demand for local food.
“The local food movement is at a special place and time,” said Morningstar.
The new Boston Public Market is just steps from one of the city’s oldest market, Haymarket. Vendors have been selling wholesale produce here for more than a century. So the question is, what will happen to their business.
Saidg Abuelgasuim has been selling decidedly non-local produce here for eight years. He welcomes the new market.
Boston Public Market Association says consumer research confirms that theory, the city has an appetite for what can now be called a market district, a place with more choices, and potentially more customers, than ever before.
