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Boston Public Market
On Wednesday, February 23rd from 5:30-7:30pm the State's consulting group for the Boston Public Market, the Project for Public Spaces, will be holding a community meeting to solicit feedback from the public on this project. (See full information below.)  We hope that you can attend this important meeting.

If you share the Boston Public Market Association's vision of a market that brings together producers and buyers of locally-sourced food to downtown Boston -- allowing year-round access to sustainably-produced foods and making our city a healthier place -- it is critical that you attend this meeting and support us!  Should the Project for Public Spaces determine that a market is viable in Boston, we will participate in bidding process anticipated to take place in Spring 2011, with the hope of being the group selected by the State to launch and manage the market.

We believe that only a nonprofit like the Boston Public Market Association is capable of running the Public Market at a break-even operational cost level, without the need to show an annual private-market return on investment. This organizational structure will allow the food vendors to be the main recipients of the project's revenues.  Over the past 10 years we have been working towards the formation of a Public Market in Boston that will act as an incubator for our region's farmers and food producers, allowing greater access to local food for individuals of all income levels and providing a venue for nutritional education.

Many of you frequent our seasonal markets and attend our events, so you have direct experience with our steadfast commitment to local food producers and consumers. We hope that you will attend the meeting on Wednesday-- to support and inform the continuation of the Boston Public Market Association's work.

If you are planning on attending, RSVP David Webber at MDAR by Tuesday, February 22nd -- email: David.Webber@state.ma.us phone: 617-626-1754    

Looking forward to seeing you there.  Please contact me with any questions.


Sincerely,

Mimi Hall
Boston Public Market Association
617-510-3796
bostonpublicmarket.org

 

www.mass.gov/agr

Upcoming Community and Vendor Meetings for the Boston Public Market

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) has contracted with Project for Public Spaces to examine, document and report on conditions and opportunities associated with the development of a year round public market in Boston , and as a part of that effort broad input will be critical to define a successful market.

Project for Public Spaces (PPS) is a New York-based non-profit planning and design organization, which for over 25 years has provided assistance to public market projects in more than 200 cities and towns in both the U.S. and internationally.     Boston Public Market Community Workshop

Date: Wednesday, February 23rd, 5:30 pm -7:30 pm - Click for details [pdf]
Location: Saltonstall Building , 100 Cambridge Street , 2nd Floor, Rooms B, C, D (near the Bowdoin Street and Government Center T stations)


Bring Your Ideas For:
--Products and vendors
--Programs and events for the market
--Market layout and merchandising    Boston Public Market Vendor Information Workshop

Date: Thursday, February 24th, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm  - Click for details [pdf]  Location: State House, Room 437

What:
An open meeting for interested agricultural producers, local businesses, fishermen and women, seafood producers, specialty food producers and existing or start-up vendors to learn more about the proposed year-round, indoor public market in downtown Boston and provide feedback regarding the market structure, product mix, selling opportunities and activities.

This meeting is a venue to learn and exchange information. All great public markets are a reflection of their local people, products and personality. Presenters from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) and Project for Public Spaces (PPS) will provide an overview and update of the project and describe ways you may be able to participate as a vendor. Most important, we want to hear about your expectations and recommendations to make it an attractive and viable place to do business.

At the conclusion of the meeting, there will be an opportunity to view the proposed site at 136 Blackstone Street , also known as Parcel 7.


More Information:
The mission of the Public Market is to provide a self-sustaining, year-round market for the purchase of fresh, local, healthy and high quality foods, and to strengthen the region's farm and fisheries economy through the direct sale of fresh and value added products.

The Market location is 136 Blackstone Street , also known as Parcel 7, in the Haymarket section of Boston . The ground floor of this building, excluding sections already used as the Haymarket T Station and parking lot, have been designated for use as a public market. The building is owned by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).

RSVP:
If you are interested in attending either meeting, please contact David Webber at David.Webber@state.ma.us or call 617-626-1754 by Tuesday, February 22.

For more information go to http://www.mass.gov/agr/boston-public-mkt.htm