MANSFIELD — Chef Chris Jackson glided his spatula across the bottom of the pan, gently stirring the cherry cream pasta to keep the rich, creamy sauce from burning.
His setup was simple — a folding table and a hot plate. But he was cooking up something worthy of a five-star restaurant in a parking lot on Mansfield’s north end.
“I want kids that grow up in this neighborhood, especially, specifically the North End, to see somebody that looks like them doing something positive and different,” Jackson said.
Jackson is a north end native himself who recently moved back to town. His cooking demonstration was part of Thursday’s farmer’s market at the North End Community Improvement Collaborative.
“It’s good to see Mansfield trying to do something positive and progressive and moving in the right direction,” he said. “We got the farmer’s market, you also got the actual urban farm. It’s nice.”
Cooking demonstrations have long been a part of the NECIC’s summer farmer’s market.
That tradition continued with the season’s market kickoff, this time at a new location.
“We have more people here than we thought on the first market. We didn’t know what we’d get with the move,” said Matthew Benko-Scruggs, CEO of NECIC.
“While we loved having it on the urban farm, having it at this intersection, which has so much traffic, I think is going to increase visibility and awareness.”
The non-profit community organization is in the midst of relocating its offices to 486 Springmill Steet. The farmer’s market took place in the parking lot.
Guests parked in a rented lot on the other side of the intersection. A police officer in a bright yellow vest escorted shoppers across the street.
“We wanted people to feel safe walking the street and crossing the street, because that intersection doesn’t actually have crosswalks,” Benko-Scruggs said.
Items for sale included produce, herbs, meat, indoor and outdoor plants, jewelry and self-care items. Shoppers could browse and check out books from the library bookmobile.
“I feel like we’re making a difference. It’s hand-picked, it’s all organic. It feels good,” said Tryston Smith, who was selling radishes, collard greens, dill, thyme and oregano on behalf of the NECIC Urban Farm.
The market will continue each Thursday through September from 4 to 7 p.m.
Farmer’s market coordinator Eva Wehry said each week will have a different food truck, beverage truck and theme.
“Next week (June 25), we’re doing movement and wellness,” she said. “I also have arts and crafts coming up. I have a week for eco-consciousness coming up.
“It’s just a bunch of fun different things to draw different vendors, different informational tables, and different customers,” she said.
Thursday’s theme was pets — a few vendors distributed free dog treats and the Richland County Dog Warden had four adoptable canines onsite.
“We will have a second pet week on Sept. 10,” Wehry said.
The market will also feature live music each week, including several performances by Mantra Das.
“He decided to bring all of his instruments with him that he owns, and just kind of keeping it open for the community to jam with him,” said Hugo Estrada, a community organizer with NECIC.
“Any instrumentalists in the area that want to jam out with Mantra Das are more than welcome to swing by and play.”
More updates on the themes, vendors and live music available at the NECIC Farmer’s Market are available on the NECIC Facebook page.
