The Brookline Winter Market

by Shubhanker Arun

Photography courtesy of Getty Images

The beauty of Coolidge Corner is that it brings together people from different cultures, with wide ranging interests and hobbies. Whether you’re looking to catch a movie at the Coolidge Corner Theatre or explore your inner nerd at New England Comics, there’s something there for everyone. The Brookline Farmers Market is another establishment that has become a cornerstone for this amazing neighborhood.

The winter market, held every Sunday from mid-November to mid-March, is hosted in the Arcade Building on Harvard Avenue. From bakers to butchers, the market attracts farmers from all across Massachusetts who are looking to sell their produce, all of which is organically grown.

Tom Guadagno, a local baker from Newton, has found a very willing customer base from markets such as this with his bread stall, Liberty Artisanal Breads, due to his fresh produce and signature taste. Tom makes all his bread on his own, and prides himself on his sourdough bread.

“There aren’t enough bakeries that make sourdough, and if they do, the consistency is almost never right,” said Guadagno.

Another item that proved to be popular were his scones, which Tom said always sell out at the Winter Market.

For Matthew Pynn, the owner of Valicent Pasta Farm, the popularity of his products changes weekly.

“It’s phases, one week they want ravioli and one week they want pasta,” said Pynn.

Pynn grows his own herbs in New Hampshire and aside from fresh pasta sells gravies and sauces. Despite also selling his produce to local stores in Allston and conglomerates like Whole Foods, he said he likes farmers markets like this one, as he likes the customer interaction it facilitates.

Boston University students love the market too.

“The fudge I had at the cheese and dairy stall is the best I’ve ever had. I just love how everything here is so fresh and pure,” said Shrey Rajgharia ( QST ’20).

Aside from food produce, there were several stalls that focused on issues of the environment and the local community. City Compost, an at-home compost service, had a stall where they had a small setup to show how waste could be converted into useful organic fertilizer.

“A lot of people at farmers markets are really concerned about farmer practices and changes,” said Irving Kurki, a member of Climate Action Brookline. Climate Action Brookline is a local organization that focuses on green energy and uses the market as a forum to engage with local residents and even farmers, hoping to get more people behind their movement.

There was a stall for Lawton Park, a children’s park and community garden that was started this past fall. Local residents can grow carrots, potatoes, turnips, apples and oranges in this community garden as a part of an outreach effort started by InspoExpo, another action group from Brookline.

“People show up with their eyes at Farmers Market,” said Andrew Thornhill, a local seller of the elaborate displays at his stall, Silverbrook.

In recent months, he said that people have become more health conscious and that kale and apples have become some of his best-selling products.

So, if you’re sick of dining hall food, head on over to the Brookline Farmers Market for some delicious and nutritious food.