Rainbow chard, a Sicilian dish made by Rhonda M. Fazio using locally sourced ingredients, was featured Thursday afternoon at the New Bedford Farmers Market in Buttonwood Park.
Fazio, a vendor with Coastal Foodshed at the New Bedford Farmers Market in Buttonwood Park, holds cooking demonstrations and tastings on the lawn behind Roller Library. Her dish on a recent day consisted of Swiss chard, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper.
“We’re bringing local produce from towns around New Bedford into the city for local people to enjoy,” Fazio said.
Fazio said giving back is important to her because she received food through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) when she was raising her son.
She said she enjoys teaching people how to cook and use food in a way that wastes as little as possible. The owner of Interwoven, at 634 Pleasant St., believes in sustainability in general.
Patty Jeffries, a regular customer, couldn’t help but stop by to try Fazio’s Rainbow Chard.
She said she loves helping spread the word about the mobile produce stand and the great work Coastal Foodshed does for people in need, and wishes she could help more.
“I come here every week, but it’s not enough,” she said.
Every Thursday, Rose Kazan of Dartmouth sells her additive-free, all-natural “Rosie’s Treats” to customers at the New Bedford Market.
“I bake everything fresh and sell at local farmers markets,” she says. “I’ve been doing this for four years now.”
Kazan said she really enjoys meeting new people every week.
Access to fresh food is very important to Vicki Cooper, and she plans to make the most of the $40 in free food that low-income people receive from her purchases at the farmers market.
“To save money, I buy edible plants and grow my own vegetables,” she said.
Coastal Foodshed expands into the region
According to its website, the nonprofit Coastal Foodshed’s mission is to make it easier for producers to sell and consumers to purchase healthy, locally grown, affordable food.
In addition to SNAP, individuals and families may also be eligible for the Health Incentive Program (HIP) and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutrition program.
Buttonwood Park’s outdoor market is held every Thursday from 2pm to 6pm and often features entertainment, while Buttonwood Park Senior Center’s indoor market is held every Saturday from 10am to 2pm.
Coastal Foodshed operates a mobile produce stand outdoors at the Acushnet Avenue entrance on Mondays from 2pm to 5pm and an outdoor mobile produce stand at Clasky Common Park on Fridays from 2pm to 5pm.
There will also be a virtual market available for online shopping pickup and delivery, with pickup taking place Wednesdays from 2pm to 5pm at Coastal Foodshed’s Food Hub Space, 127 W. Rodney French Blvd. in New Bedford.
Deliveries will take place on Wednesdays and Fridays from noon to 6pm and will be delivered to towns including Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, New Bedford, Westport, Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester.
Fairhaven Farmers Market
Located next to Fairhaven High School, the Huddleston Farmers Market is part of the Huddleston Marketplace and is open every Saturday from 10am to 3pm through the end of September, except for the last Saturday in June.
The market offers a wide selection of fresh fruits and vegetables and accepts SNAP and HIP benefits, as well as WIC, credit cards with a $10 minimum, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Venmo.
The Fairhaven Farmers Market will be held every Sunday through October 27th from 11am to 2:30pm at 151 Alden Road.
Independently owned farmers market offering locally grown produce, vegetables, fruits, baked goods, meats, herbs, honey, jams, eggs, plants, handmade soaps, freshly squeezed lemonade and agriculture related products.
Some vendors accept SNAP/HIP, WIC and Senior Farmers Market coupons. The market offers free space to local nonprofits. For more information, email Joe and Loralynn Beaulieu at allnaturalbeef@comcast.net or visit the Fairhaven Farmers Market Facebook page.
Dartmouth Farmers Market
The Dartmouth Farmers Market (789 Dartmouth St.) is located on the lawn of Mary’s Parish Center in Padanaram Village, South Dartmouth.
The market’s new hours are Wednesdays through September from 3pm to 7pm and Wednesdays in October from 3pm to 6pm. SNAP, HIP and WIC benefits are accepted.
The market sells locally grown produce and flowers, locally raised meat and eggs, locally baked and prepared foods, handmade crafts, goods, art and more.
Standard-Times staff writer Katherine Gallerani can be reached at kgallerani@gannett.com.
