As Thanksgiving draws near and many of us begin thinking about what will fill our tables, Director of Dining and Wellness Jennifer Bostedo is already thinking several steps ahead – about how to bring the freshness of New Jersey’s fall harvest directly to Montclair State University’s campus. For her, food is more than a meal plan; it’s a way to connect students to local farms, sustainable eating and the flavors of the season.
Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey's largest and most comprehensive healthcare network, today announced a multi-pronged commitment totaling almost $7 million to expand its fight against hunger and food insecurity.
The HMH Healthy Connections Nutrition Pack Program will be a collaborative effort with established partners, including the Community Food Bank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) and Fulfill. Students will receive either a Nutrition Box or a reusable HMH-branded bag filled with shelf-stable, kid-friendly meals and, through a partnership with The Common Market, fresh produce.
The Common Market Texas celebró la inauguración oficial de su renovado almacén en Houston con una ceremonia de corte de listón y recorrido por las nuevas instalaciones. El proyecto, que contó con el apoyo de la Administración de Desarrollo Económico de Estados Unidos (EDA) y fundaciones filantrópicas, incluyó más de $5 millones en renovaciones, entre ellas un espacio refrigerado de 15 mil pies cuadrados.
“The Common Market Texas plays a vital role in connecting family farmers with schools, hospitals, and communities across our state,” said Commissioner Miller. “This grand re-opening is proof that Texas agriculture is not just surviving—it’s thriving. When we strengthen our food infrastructure, we strengthen rural economies, create jobs, and ensure that more Texans can enjoy fresh, healthy, local products grown right here in the Lone Star State.”
Students and faculty at Montclair State University in Montclair, New Jersey have a new way to receive fresh produce, courtesy of the dining team’s new Farm Box Program. Each week, students and faculty place their order via Grubhub using their flex dollars or credit card and then pick up their box full of fresh produce right on campus. Unlike a traditional CSA program, there is no subscription required, and students and faculty can order the boxes on a per-week basis.
The produce is sourced from Montclair State’s new vendor, The Common Market. Each week, Common Market sends the dining team a list of produce available and they choose six to eight items for the boxes that they think students would enjoy.
For example, in Georgia, we supported and The Common Market Georgia and the ACRE Collective (ACRE), through a grant to The Common Market Philadelphia Inc., to pilot a groundbreaking approach: Partnering forward commitments ― where institutions like schools and hospitals committed to purchasing certain volumes of food in advance ― with financial and technical assistance so farmers received pre-season payments, grants for equipment or infrastructure, and tailored technical assistance to help them meet volume, food safety, and specification requirements.
On August 7, Harris County Commissioners Court (Texas) approved an additional $1.2 million of federal funding through the American Rescue Plan Act to extend the Common Market program. This extension will last through December 2026 and reinforces Commissioner Lesley Briones’ belief that government should work for the people it serves by providing practical, compassionate support to those in need.
“Common Market is really making a difference,” said Linda Zepeda, assistant manager at Burnett Bayland Community Center. “People will ride their bikes here or walk in the heat and rain because these boxes are sometimes the only groceries they’ll have until payday.”
Not only does the pilot program provide new lunches for students, but also a big economic upturn for the community.
“Across all three pilot districts, about $150,000 worth of local food has been purchased from local farmers,” Hennessee said. “That equates to a quarter million dollars of economic impact for the surrounding communities.”
The program delivered 67,000 pounds of locally sourced foods across the Marietta, Rockdale and Atlanta areas.
Every Monday, The Common Market delivers dozens of boxes of fresh, local produce to Neighbors Serving Neighbors pantry. The produce varies depending on what’s in season, but the need for fresh fruits and vegetables remains the same.
“I have one lady who is almost in tears every week because she’s so excited over her produce box,” Stephanie said. “Today, she got watermelon and peaches. She was ecstatic to have two different fruits.”
Local apples, tomatoes, tofu and more are showing up on school lunch menus thanks to the combined efforts of school nutrition teams and organizations like The Common Market and the Illinois Farm to School Network.
Our friendly and educated team is here to partner with you every step of the way. Connect today to learn of all the ways to partner with The Common Market.
"Fifer Orchards likes what Common Market does and how they service underserved areas with fresh local produce."
— Curt Fifer, Sales Manager, Fifer Orchards