Boston Public Market Announces Food Rescue and Composting Programs

Upcoming Local Food Market Will Donate Leftover Food to Community Partners, Compost Food Scraps

BOSTON — The Boston Public Market today announced a set of partnerships with local food rescue organizations, community partners, and a composting company that will allow the upcoming local food market to combat hunger in Boston, ensure convenience for the Market’s farmers and food producers, and reduce food waste.

The Boston Public Market will house over 35 farmers, fishermen, and food producers from Massachusetts and throughout New England, selling items such as farm fresh produce; meat and poultry; eggs; milk and cheese; fish and shellfish; bread and baked goods; flowers; and an assortment of specialty and prepared foods. The Boston Public Market, located at 100 Hanover Street above the Haymarket MBTA station, will be open Wednesday — Sunday, 8 a.m. — 8 p.m, beginning on July 30.

FOOD RESCUE:
Under the newly-announced food rescue program at the Market, vendors can contribute leftover and underutilized food that would otherwise be discarded to the market’s non-profit food rescue partners: The Greater Boston Food Bank and Lovin’ Spoonfuls. The food will then be distributed to places like The Daily Table in Dorchester, Haley House Bakery Café’s weekly “Community Tables” dinner, the New England Center for Homeless Veterans, Boston Rescue Mission, Rosie’s Place, and the Pine Street Inn, which are all GBFB member agencies and receive the majority of their food from them. The food can then be prepared and served to those in need.

“It’s incredibly important to us at the Boston Public Market that everyone in our community has access to healthy, local food,” said Boston Public Market CEO Liz Morningstar. “Through these partnerships, we can make sure that every bit of food in the Market is used by someone who needs it, rather than simply being thrown away.”

The Boston Public Market already enjoys strong, multi-year relationships with several local food rescue organizations, and the Market’s two seasonal outdoor farmers markets currently donate surplus food. The Market plans to continue these existing relationships while adding new ones, rotating the community organizations that receive donations on a monthly basis.

“The Greater Boston Food Bank is pleased to be able to connect several of our local member agencies, including the New England Center for Homeless Veterans, Rosie’s Place and the Pine Street Inn, with the new Boston Public Market,” said Catherine D’Amato, President and CEO of The Greater Boston Food Bank. “Working with like-minded organizations to reduce waste is in keeping with our mission to end hunger here in eastern Massachusetts. Partnerships like this reflect The Greater Boston Food Bank’s longstanding commitment to provide healthy food to those in need while promoting healthy communities.”

“Lovin’ Spoonfuls is thrilled to extend our powerful partnership with The Boston Public Market,” said Ashley Stanley, Founder/Executive Director of Lovin’ Spoonfuls. “Lovin’ Spoonfuls had been rescuing incredible local product from the Dewey Square Farmers Market for many years, keeping it out of landfills and distributing it to those in need. With the exciting addition of the Boston Public Market, we are proud to connect the bounty of fresh, healthy and local fare to underserved communities.”

COMPOSTING:
Food scraps and other organic material from Market vendors that cannot be donated will be composted through a partnership with CERO, a Boston worker-owned cooperative company that offers waste reduction services. CERO delivers organic waste to composting facilities, where it is turned into rich soil for growing tomorrow’s food.

“CERO Cooperative takes pride in our role as environmental stewards creating good jobs supporting green businesses,” said Lor Holmes, a CERO worker-owner. “We appreciate our partnerships with the Boston Public Market, grocers, restaurants, growers and gleaners as we all join together to build prosperous sustainable communities.”

The Boston Public Market is a 28,000 square foot permanent, year-round, self-sustaining market that provides fresh local food to consumers from all income levels and nourishes our community.

The Market is located in downtown Boston’s emerging Market District, next to the Haymarket pushcart vendors and the historic Blackstone Block, and it sits on the Rose Kennedy Greenway and the Freedom Trail. 100 Hanover Street also contains the Boston RMV branch, entrances to the Haymarket MBTA station, and a parking garage. Two Hubway stations are located nearby.

The Boston Public Market is the only locally-sourced market of its kind in the United States. Everything sold at the Market is produced or originates in New England. Boston Public Market vendors are proud to accept SNAP/EBT for all eligible market products.

The Market is a civic resource, educating the public about food sources, nutrition, and preparation. In addition to more than 35 vendor stalls, the Boston Public Market includes a 3,200 square foot demonstration kitchen, programmed by The Trustees of Reservations, the Market’s lead programming partner, with opportunities such as hands-on cooking demos, lectures, family activities, exercise classes, training and community events.

For more information, visit www.bostonpublicmarket.org, Facebook (Facebook.com/BostonPublicMarket), Twitter (@BosPublicMarket), and Instagram (@BostonPublicMarket). You can follow all the activity at the Market by using #bostonpublicmarket.