A sizable crowd showed up at the State House for Monday night’s community meeting on the Public Market destined for the ground floor of Parcel 7 on Blackstone St., next to Haymarket and the Greenway. From neighborhood residents, Haymarket vendors, business owners to foodies and health nuts, there were plenty of opinions on what should make up a Boston’s Public Market.
The Public Market Commission has set a timeline to open the public food market by the Fall of 2012, spurred by State legislation with public funding up to $10 million of which $4 million has been authorized. This meeting was to solicit public comment on a range of issues before a request for proposal is issued for an operator. Leading the discussion was Commissioner Scott Soares of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.
Video Topic Index:
00:00 Introductions and Review of Previous Meetings
12:00 Overview of Parcel 7/9 Advisory Committee Work by MassDOT
22:20 Community Input on Questions Posed by the Commission
- In what ways should the Public Market complement the Haymarket?
- What is the definition of “local” for products such as produce, fish/seafood and specialty foods (cheese, coffee, jams, jellies, baked goods, chocolates, candies, nuts, salsas, etc.)?
- What type of labeling/certification would you like to see at the market?
- What is the right balance of prepared to fresh foods at the market?
- What type of shopping experience do you want at the public market? Who should staff the stalls at the market?
- Transportation and the Public Market: How will you get to and from the Public Market?
- Marketing/Programming
More information is available at www.mass.gov/publicmarket.
