Officials plan to have the 27,500-square-foot market open seven days a week, selling prod ucts consumers can now get only at farmers markets and other out-of-the-way venues. Construction could begin in early 2012, with the facility opening later next year.
“This will be an opportunity for people to have direct contact with Massachusetts farmers and fishermen, and the products themselves,’’ said the state agricultural commissioner, Scott Soares. “It will also be a great educational opportunity that will increase the awareness of the agricultural identity of the Commonwealth.’’
A consultant hired by Soares’s department devised an optimal inventory and layout for the market, with dozens of stalls to be leased annually or seasonally by local vendors. Though the consultant, Project for Public Spaces, suggested that some prepared dishes, such as pizza and sandwiches, be available in the market, it cautioned against allowing a food-court vibe to take over the space. All businesses in the facility should be locally owned and operated, the consultant said, and the products should be affordable.
“The public’s enthusiasm is high for this project, and many see this market as both an opportunity to showcase the region’s bounty and create a major community gathering space along the Greenway,’’ Project for Public Space’s report said. “Customers will be looking for high-quality, well-priced items that are unique to the public market.’’
Boston is one of the few large cities in the country without a public food market to showcase its culture and cuisine. The city’s last traditional market closed in the 1950s, when facilities in Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market fell so deep into disrepair that the federal government threatened to close them, forcing many vendors to relocate.
Pushcart vendors operate at Haymarket on weekends, but they aren’t a true public market as their products come from wholesalers, not local farms and fishermen.
Mayor Thomas M. Menino said he wants the market to serve as a centerpiece of a new district focused on the city’s food traditions.
