Mobilizing

Farmers' markets are like number one awesome fantastico, but there are two major barriers for people - location & cost. So I'm down with this burgeoning interest on starting up mobile markets using vans and buses.

In the DC area, Arcadia hopes to raise enough funds through Kickstarter to start a mobile market using an old, retrofitted school bus to connect local farms to schools, community centers, and DC's food deserts. They plan on making regular, weekly stops in Wards 5, 7, and 8, taking SNAP, WIC, FMNP payments, and providing educational resources.

While we're on the subject of trucks and buses, oh my, DC Central Kitchen wants to start a truck farm, inspired by the documentary, uh... truck farm. Well, what else would you call it? The truck would be used to visit local youth organizations and use the gardens as education about food and healthy eating.


the last kid cracks me up

Michelle Obama is a superhero whose weapon of choice is.... FRUIT!!

Awesome. I, too, envision a coat of arms emblazoned with broccoli.

Vegetable Van vroom vroom

This old timey photo is from Mallala Museum in South Australia! Their caption reads: "Albert Charles Coleman used this covered wagon to deliver fruit and vegetables from his shop to his customers in the townnship of Mallala and nearby areas." Nothing is new again, plus ça change, etc. etc. PeaPod is just old hat.

BUT, it's great to get more fresh produce delivery systems out to food deserts. East Harlem is going to get a refrigerated Veggie Van that will tote affordable produce from wholesale markets in the Bronx to senior centers and housing projects, with hopes to expand the reach to Inwood and Washington Heights. Interestingly, to start the van project, the Manhattan borough President's office has been working with NYC's Greenmarket program, even though it seems the produce won't be coming from the greenmarket producers (or is there an overlap with the wholesalers?). It'll be interesting to see how this program rolls out, how it's run and received, whether there will be organic produce offered, etc. But yay for bringing produce to the people!!