From city Communications Director Brett Broesder:
Today, the Bridgeport Farmers Market Collaborative will be the beneficiary of Whole Food Market’s 5% Day. Five percent of every purchase made today at Whole Foods Market on 350 Grasmere Ave. in Fairfield will be donated to the Bridgeport Farmers Market Collaborative to support the matching of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) dollars at each of Bridgeport’s six farmers markets.
Bridgeport’s farmers market season kicked off on Saturday with the grand opening of the Black Rock Farmer’s Market.
Black Rock is part of the Bridgeport Farmers Market Collaborative, a unique partnership of six independent farmers located in neighborhoods throughout the city. Bridgeport’s other five farmer’s markets are set to open in the coming months. From June 20 to October 31, Bridgeport’s farmers markets will be operating across the city, providing fresh, locally grown products to residents, the workforce, and visitors.
“We’re working hard in Bridgeport to ensure our families have access to high quality foods. Our six farmer’s markets are an important step in this effort, providing fresh, healthy options and allowing us to support local businesses at the same time,” said Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch. “I encourage everyone to visit one of our farmers markets this season.”
Each market is hosted by a different neighborhood, allowing all of the city’s residents access to high quality food options right near their homes. With all six markets open, the community will be able to visit a farmer’s market five days out of the week.
“With the help of committed partners, Bridgeport is home to six farmers markets. I encourage residents to visit each Bridgeport market, as they all offer a different community feel,” said Health Director, Kristin duBay Horton.
Bridgeport’s farmers markets were initiated in conjunction with Mayor Finch’s BGreen2020 sustainability initiative. Along with providing healthy food options, farmers markets also help reduce green house gas emissions and fight climate change as they greatly decrease the distance needed to transport the products to consumers.
“In Bridgeport, we’re making smart investments in the future. This includes creating green jobs, investing in clean energy production, and creating transit-oriented developments–all of which will ensure our kids breathe cleaner air.”
Livibility.com recently ranked Bridgeport the fifth healthiest city in the country, with access to farmers markets being among the criteria for the website’s rankings.
Ø Click here to read more from Livibility.com: bit.ly/1IieXCZ.
Bridgeport families and the surrounding area can take advantage of these farmer’s markets until late October.
Bridgeport Farmer’s Markets:
· EAST END MARKET 985 Stratford Avenue–July 12-October 25, Sundays 11-3
· ST. VINCENT FARM STAND 2800 Main Street–July 7-October 27, Tuesdays 12-4
· EAST SIDE MARKET 752 East Main Street–July 8-October 28, Wednesdays 10-2
· SOUTH END MARKET 877 Park Avenue—July 15-October 28, Wednesdays 3:30-6:30
· DOWNTOWN MARKET McLevy Green–July 9-October 29, Thursdays 10-2
· BLACK ROCK MARKET 481 Brewster Street–June 20-October 17, Saturdays 9-1All markets will accept SNAP/EBT, WIC, Senior & Veteran FMNP and CVV checks.
More crumbs for the beggars from the banquet table.
Gee, too bad Whole Foods didn’t open up a store at the old Stop & Shop on Madison Ave.
Geez, Bob. They would have gone out of business in three months. Whole Foods caters to a more upscale clientele and their prices reflect that. I am not surprised you do not understand the demographics nor the fact you are an ingrate. How about kudos to Whole Foods? They owe us nothing and although Fairfield is just a two-minute walk, their politics and world may as well be a million miles away.
While Bob Walsh, my nemesis, struggles with that vision thing, Mayor Finch long ago initiated a BGreen program for Bridgeport. That vision becomes a reality with the opening of six farmers markets.
Those aren’t crumbs. Those are SNAP-enhanced food vouchers fulfilled by local farmers. Kudos, Mayor Finch.
Whole Foods of all places! They must have suddenly grown a conscience. Currently they are under investigation in NY for scamming and overcharging customers by falsifying weight on their packaged food items. They were hit with hefty fines for doing the same thing to unsuspecting customers a couple of years ago in California. All the more reason for consumers to shop at Trader Joe’s.