BROOKLINE — Open rain or shine, the Brookline Farmers’ Market has been dedicated to supporting local farmers and artisans for 36 years.
The market is open every Thursday afternoon from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m and will remain open until the last Thursday before Thanksgiving. The vendors set up in the Centre Street West Parking Lot right behind the Coolidge Corner Theatre.
The Brookline Farmers’ Market is a nonprofit run by a board for three volunteers. Abe Faber has been the treasurer of the board for six years and first got involved with the market as a vendor. He and his wife Christy Timon co-owned Clear Flour Bakery for 20 years before giving it up about 2 years ago.
Vendors sell a wide variety of products, including organic produce, locally brewed kombucha, baked goods, and potted succulents.
Ben Ames, a vendor from the Langwater Farm in North Easton, has been coming to the market for 10 years. The farm grows a wide array of vegetables that change throughout the season, tomatoes being their specialty.
“The other vendors and local long-time customers are really awesome,” Ames said. “Year after year we sell a lot of our products which puts a smile on all of our faces.”
The Brookline Farmers’ Market is different compared to most in the Boston area. Faber said the Brookline market opens in the afternoon because the vendors harvest their produce the morning of to guarantee freshness. Other vendors in the area tend to harvest their produce the day before and set up shop in the early morning.
The Mycoterra Farm in Westhampton is one of the unique vendors at Brookline’s market, selling fresh, local, gourmet mushrooms. The owner of the company, Julia Coffey, felt mushrooms would save the world so she started her business and it has taken off ever since.
Vendor Kelly Roberts explained that the three mushrooms being sold, the Shiitake, Lion’s Mane, and Oyster, are grown in house and year-round.
“We add supplements to the sawdust before cooking the mushrooms in a pressure cooker for roughly five hours. After they are cooked, we add the spawn,” Roberts explained. “It’s a huge process that is really cool.”
The Mycoterra Farm sells not only raw mushrooms, but also grow-your-own starter kits, bug spray, facial toner, and handsoap all derived from the mushrooms they grow.
Nate Harlan, the market’s director, said Brookline’s market prides itself on being accessible to everyone in the community. As of six years ago, the market accepts Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cards, so members of the Brookline community who receive government assistance can purchase fresh, healthy produce.
Brookline Farmer’s Market has other products for sale, like homemade ice cream from Trombetta’s Farm, jars of raw honey from Beverly Bee’s, and gluten-free pasta from Valincenti Pasta Farm.
“It’s a delightful experience for both vendors and customers, and will continue to flourish every week until we close up shop,” Harlan said.
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