Terra Americana

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October 2009

Fresh Acres; Springfield's rear round open air market

Walking through the entrance of Fresh Acres truly invokes the feeling of being in a covered farmer's market.

The fruit and produce is invitingly displayed. Signs tantalize the creative juices associated with food. Meat, seafood, poultry and dairy are all fresh and prime. The air is perfumed with the scent of artisanal breads being fresh baked. It is hard to believe you are in a Big Y concept store.

For those not aware, Big Y is a 70 year old grocery chain, owned and operated locally. It is rare to find a supermarket in this country that is US owned, never mind one still be operated by the original family three generations on.

The seeds of this thought began to sprout while the company's other offshoot, Table & Vine was still in Northampton. For a time they offered aged beef and artisanal cheeses along this fabulous wines and craft beers. In that format the idea floundered. The company clearly gestated on how to do it right, eventually opening this beautiful flower in the Sixteen Acres section of Springfield.

The metamorphosis is extraordinary. You find aged olive oils and vinegars sprinkled thoughout the green grocers, butcher shop, fish market and dairy. The store is also home to the areas best selection of gluten free and organic products.

Budget meats or low end produce are not available at Fresh Acres. As with all Big Y Stores, when they can source an item locally they do. The result of their dedication to the area is potatoes from Hadley, apples from Granville and even a tomato sauce from Springfield’s own Lido Restaurant.

Details:

Location: 1941 Wilbraham Road Springfield, MA 01129, click here for directions.

"Our goal is to exceed our customers' evolving expectations by constantly seeking better ways to create and deliver World Class service and value."

The Big Y mission statement has been taken into consideration on evcery level at Fresh Acres.

Posted in Shopping Local and Eating Healthy | Permalink | Comments (0)

Western Massachusetts Hunger Summit

September is National Hunger Action Month.

Wmfoodbank

The Western Mass Food Bank will be hosting a conference to draw attention to issues directly related to hunger in our Community at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield on Thursday September 24th 2009. Similar Events are being held accross the nation this month.

The local Summit promises programs to center around the Western Mass Food Bank's finding that one in every ten area residents seeks food assistance through emergency programs. Megan S. Pete, director of development and marketing for the Food Bank has been quoted as saying the number totals more than 114,000 in Western Massachusetts. Support of local agencies is another topic to be broached. Springfield Mayor, Dominic J Sarno will introduce the newly formed Springfield Food Policy Council, an initiative to "improve access to nutritious, affordable, fresh, and safe foods for all residents of Springfield.” The Keynote speaker is Joel Berg, nationally recognized expert on hunger and author of a new book, "All You Can Eat: How Hungry is America?"

While morning sessions are only open to members of Food Bank Agencies, the afternoon hosts a series of workshops open to the public. The agenda includes;