CitySeed Hosts Weekend Farmers' Market Season at Wooster Square, Edgewood Park

From CitySeed:

One of the only farmers’ markets operating year-round in Connecticut, CitySeed officially kicks off its Weekend Farmers’ Market 2016 season at Wooster Square on Saturday, May 7 and Edgewood Park on Sunday, May 8. Wooster Square will host the first of CitySeed’s new festival series with the Wooster Square Salad Slam, a poetry-infused salute to Connecticut's early herbs and vegetables. Edgewood Park’s Market focuses on Sunday’s Mothers’ Day holiday.

Wooster Square Salad Slam activities include veggie-inspired poetry readings by local poets and community members, impromptu poems by Alison Moncrief Bromage on her vintage typewriter, local spring salads for tasting and for sale from special guest Small Kitchen Big Taste, food pairings, specials and recipes by various farmers, greens-themed offerings from The Caseus Cheese Truck, Chief Brody’s Bahn Mi Food Truck and Crepes Choupette, musical entertainment and the traditional celebratory Lettuce Toss featuring special guests.

Edgewood Park’s opening day will be a celebration of mothers who love local, with garden gifts from Riverbank and Four Root Farms, beautiful yarn and knitting materials from Sankow’s Beaver Brook Farm, handmade local soaps, skincare and spa day from Sperry Naturals, yummy pastry treats from SoNo Baking Company and farm-fresh flowers from several farms. Cyril the Sorcerer will bring magic to the market for kids and their moms.

This year CitySeed will host festivals at its weekend markets honoring seasonal favorites, including Strawberry Fest on June 26 and June 27, Pickle-Palooza on July 23 June 24, Apple Fest on Oct. 1 and Oct. 2 and Squash Everything on Nov. 5 and Nov. 6. Festivals will incorporate themed cooking demos or tastings, special food items for sale, food truck menus and farmer pairings and specials, live performances by local musicians and family-friendly activities. Knife and tool sharpening services will also be featured.

As in previous years, the Wooster Square Market is located in Russo Park at the corner of Chapel St. and DePalma Ct. from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Edgewood Park Market is located at the corner of Whalley and West Rock Ave. from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Downtown and Fair Haven Markets open later in the season on June 15 and July 7, respectively.

All CitySeed Farmers’ Markets offer Double Value Coupon Program, a nutrition incentive program that enables SNAP recipients to double their money dollar for dollar at CitySeed Farmers’ Markets; up to $10 buys $20 of Connecticut-grown fruit, vegetables, seedlings or canned fruits and vegetables at each market each week.

In addition to supporting local agriculture, health equity is a primary focus of CitySeed’s work. We enhance access to healthy food through a series of Farmers’ Markets structured for all income levels, a Mobile Farmers’ Market, SNAP Double Value Coupon Program, community-based cooking education programs through Kitchen at CitySeed, policy work and other food-related programs. Further information is available through the CitySeed website.