Roots Rising
www.rootsrising.org. empowers youth and builds community through food and farming. Roots Rising’s Farm Crew hires teens to work on farms & in food pantries. The Roots Rising Market Crew runs the Pittsfield Farmers Market, the first teen-run farmers market in the region. Shoppers will find fresh, local fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, cheese, baked goods, flowers, artisan goods, as well as live music & children’s activities. We accept SNAP, HIP, WIC and Senior FMNP benefits as well as debit and credit cards.
We are in the planning stages of our third major initiative—a Pittsfield-based Youth Farm. Roots Rising’s vision is to lift up youth as community changemakers and strengthen the local food system through the transformational power of meaningful work.
Coming Up this Season
This season will feature many longtime and beloved vendors as well as new vendors. Crosswalk Coffee was voted “Fan Favorite” in Berkshire EforAll’s 2021 Pitch Contest. It is the area’s only human-powered cafe on wheels. Owner Nicholas Russo will be preparing coffee drinks entirely by hand- from the bean grinding, to the espresso extracting, to the milk steaming- all from behind a three-wheeled cargo bike.
In addition, Les Petits Choux joins the market. A new business launched by Pauline and Louis Lassalle, a French husband and wife duo. Their specialty is a cream filled puff pastry, or Choux, in both classic and seasonal flavors.
And new this year, SECOND SATURDAYS! Once a month we will be serving up a SUPERSIZED market in partnership with CozQuest and the City’s Cultural Development Office. These days will include a Makers Market, kids yoga, obstacle courses, the Roaming Railroad, community workshops, contests and more!
Food Justice Community-Driven Force for Good
The Pittsfield Farmers Market was founded with the belief that everyone has the right to fresh, healthy food, and we strive to make the market accessible and inclusive for all. We accept SNAP, HIP, WIC and Senior FMNP benefits as well as debit and credit cards.“The Pittsfield Farmers Market is rooted in social justice. In the past 9 years, our market has facilitated more than half a million dollars in fresh food put on the table of those in need. One way we have accomplished this is through our food justice program Market Match, which doubles SNAP, WIC and senior benefits. While the food is subsidized for our shoppers, our farmers receive 100% of the sales. In this way, our market helps build a just and thriving community,” say Jess Vecchia and Jamie Samowitz, Co-Directors of Roots Rising.The Pittsfield Farmers Market also hosts a Giving Table, where shoppers and vendors can gift food to be donated to local pantries and shelters.
And lastly, the market plays an essential role in increasing food security for our community’s youth. Summer Eats bridges the summer hunger gap by providing free, healthy lunches to all youth under the age of 18. This season, Summer Eats at the Pittsfield Farmers Market will run 11am to 1pm from July 2nd to August 20th.
About the Pittsfield Farmers Market
The Pittsfield Farmers Market is a community hub and force for good: a powerful third place, outside of work and home, to build connection in our community. Our teen-run market cultivates the next generation of changemakers. We create an accessible and inclusive market by doubling nutrition benefits and offering several food justice programs. We have a radical goal of building resilience into our vibrant local food system. And we do it together—the Pittsfield Farmers Market is community in action. For more information about the market, visit farmersmarketpittsfield.org.
About Roots Rising
Roots Rising empowers youth and builds community through food and farming. Roots Rising’s Farm Crew hires teens to work on farms and in food pantries, and Market Crew runs the Pittsfield Farmers Market, the first teen-run farmers market in the region. We are in the planning stages of our third major initiative—a Pittsfield-based Youth Farm. Roots Rising’s vision is to lift up youth as community changemakers and strengthen the local food system through the transformational power of meaningful work.
Learn more at www.rootsrising.org.
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Roots Rising Team
Roots Rising empowers youth and builds community through food and farming. Learn more: RootsRising.org.
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