nothin CitySeed Return Doubles As Test Market | New Haven Independent

CitySeed Return Doubles As Test Market

Natalie Kainz Photo

Customers check out produce at the Sunset Farm booth.

Six new vendors reopened CitySeed’s Downtown Farmers Market after a pandemic pause — and used the occasion to test out Chinese at-home meal kits, vegan granola mixes, and No Trace” soaps they hope to develop into thriving commercial lines.

People gathered outside the booths lined up near City Hall to pick up fresh vegetables, fruits, and handmade soaps, along with the newly marketed test products.

Alyssa Gant, the farmer’s market manager, said that although the turnout on Wednesday was slightly lower than in previous years, she was still impressed with the number of people who attended.

Diane Rose browses through produce from Sunset Farm.

Because we skipped a year during the pandemic, we’re hoping that this market rejuvenates and comes just as vibrant as it was before,” said Gant. We’re off to a great start!”

Vendors said they are using the farmers market as a trial run for their products because it is less risky than setting up a shop.

Carrie Law with a sample of mapo tofu at East Meets Feast.

That’s certainly the case for Carrie Law, a recent Yale MBA graduate who said the farmers market is her pilot launch” for her Chinese cook-at-home meal kit brand East Meets Feast.” Law’s kits range from Sichuan-style mapo tofu to her personal favorite: Steamed chicken with shiitake mushrooms.

This is my first day and my first farmers market,” said Law, who started her business in mid-June. Today’s lesson is that people really like vegetarian options and sampling dishes.”

Law‘s dishes are based on her Hong Kong-born mother’s personal recipes and her own experimentation in the kitchen. She currently offers an order online option and delivers within the New Haven area but is looking to expand soon.

Tamara Ketchian with her favorite flavor of granola: Original Nutty.

Vendor Tamara Ketchian had originally planned to open up a cafe to sell Wildwood Granola” — a gluten-free, vegan brand that she started in April. After seeing the steep prices of setting up shop, she decided that the farmers market would be a better first step.

This farmers market has a wider variety of people coming through,” said Ketchain, comparing the downtown New Haven location to farmers markets in Milford, Walnut Beach, and Edgewood Park. I like CitySeed’s philosophy of trying to find healthy food for people who can’t always afford it.”

Wildwood Granola uses locally-made maple syrup from River’s Edge Farm in Willington.

Ketchain sells 10 different flavors of granola, including Chunky Monkey, Ginger Cranberry, and a grain-free, sugar-free variety for those who are diabetic or on the keto diet.

Jeremy Spang, who operated a booth for his plastic-free soap and skincare brand No Trace,” also originally planned to set up a permanent shop. He and his wife Jocelyn Rustemeyer started the Guilford-based business after being inspired by zero-waste, refill shops in California.

Jeremy Spang and Jocelyn Rustemeyer.


With Covid, we just weren’t sure whether it would be the best time to open an actual store,” said Jeremy Spang.

Spang said that the farmers market was the perfect way to share the brand’s shampoo bars, soaps, and lotions with the community. All No Trace” products feature two ingredients that were grown in Spang’s own backyard, including calendula and American skullcap.

Cleansing soaps at No Trace.

Spang added that he found the live acoustic music played by Quinn Miller, an indie singer-songwriter, on the opening day of the downtown farmers market particularly enjoyable.

Quinn Miller sings to a small crowd.

Miller played tunes like Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling In Love” to a small audience of shoppers.

That’s beautiful!” exclaimed Crystal McKay, a shopper who stopped to listen to Miller sing.

Crystal McKay.

McKay came to the farmers market to use her food stamps to buy organic produce. The location is convenient for her because it is right near her bus stop.

As at other CitySeed farmers markets, downtown’s vendors accept SNAP/EBT and WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program Coupons. Due to a partnership with the CT Fresh Match program, all SNAP/EBT benefits are doubled for those buying fresh produce.

Owners Kaitlyn Kimball and Lawrence Passeck at the Sunset Farm booth.

Although McKay already used up her food stamps, she plans to come back to buy squash, cauliflower, broccoli, and kale next Wednesday. She browsed through an aisle of fresh vegetables sold by Sunset Farm — an organic, no-till vendor which prides itself on its sustainable packaging and farming methods.

Beckett Farms in Glastonbury and South Haven Farm also ran booths with organic fresh fruits and vegetables on Wednesday. Vendors at both booths agreed that the downtown farmers market location has a more diverse crowd and more foot traffic.

Stephanie Berluti holds up organic carrots from her one-woman business South Haven Farm.


People are also more adventurous eaters here,” said Stephanie Berluti of South Haven Farm. I’m used to growing more unique varieties of vegetables and people always buy them here.”

Berluti likes to grow black radishes but said they don’t sell as well in more suburban markets. Her orange, red, and white beets sold out within an hour of the downtown farmers market opening.

Nara Beckett.


We sold out of blueberries in 30 minutes!” exclaimed Nara Beckett.

Additional vendors are expected to operate booths at the Downtown Farmers Market in the coming weeks.

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