Another Common Market customer, Newark Public Schools, utilized USDA’s Fruit and Vegetable Program to direct dollars towards local purchasing, similar to Alachua County Public Schools in Florida. Since May, the district has purchased 102,000 pounds of local fruits and vegetables through The Common Market to supplement emergency food distribution efforts.
[The Common Market Mid-Atlantic] recently finished a seven-month, $6 million contract with the City of New York to pack and deliver more than 230,000 pantry boxes to address adult food insecurity. “Hearing directly from people about what it means to not open a box with processed sugary foods, but something fresh and nutritious — we’re giving humanity back to people through distribution and food access efforts.”
In the coming months, the Global Alliance will be sharing the stories of initiatives whose creativity, adaptability, and resilience present examples for how to respond to global challenges like COVID-19 and the need for food systems transformation. With operations in the eastern and southern U.S. The Common Market is working with community-based organizations and producers to connect low income families with local food.
"To be essential, it means a lot. Being out there on the frontlines with everyone else. Even if it is on the smaller end — you’re still out there helping out."
“We are thrilled to partner in this new way with Austin ISD,” said Margaret Smith, Director at The Common Market Texas. “At The Common Market, we fully recognize the role of high-quality, local food can play in nutrition and overall good health. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are leaning on our mission to serve, and we are proud to be a part of the solution during this challenging time. "
"Sleeger said non-profits were a game-changer, such as The Common Market in Philadelphia. The Common Market is a non-profit distributor that connects local farms to communities and anchor institutions like Lehigh."
Paula Daniels, founder of the Los Angeles Food Policy Council and co-founder of Center for Good Food Purchasing, speaks to the strength of regionalized food systems and to the resilient nature of food hubs, like ours: "...with mission-driven intermediaries, like food hubs, dedicated to sourcing from the local farming economy, supporting equity among the supply chain, dedicated to supporting healthy food access and distributing where need is great. ...The Common Market is a good example. They were able to immediately pivot to get more food to school districts."
"Sometimes a produce box holds more than fresh vegetables and fruit.
It also contains the labor of Pennsylvania farmers and farm workers, truck drivers, relationship-building and evidence-based information from Penn State Extension staff, the passion of 4-H youth and leaders, a mission-focused community development group, the grit of a community organizer, locally grown fruit and vegetables from an innovative non-profit regional food distributor, and potential for growing healthy communities.
We are going to have to find a bigger box."
“People have been brave. Our drivers are out on the front lines, and they were like: ‘We’re here. We’re ready to serve.’ They didn’t hesitate. I’ll remember how brave the farmers were, too. I have been so impressed at how everyone has leaped in and said, ‘We are going to keep moving and figure out how to help each other.’”
In part 2 of this series, Bill Green discusses The Common Market’s mission to connect communities with good food from sustainable family farms. They strive to improve food security, farm viability and community and ecological health.
When the Common Market Southeast began producing USDA Farmers to Families Food Boxes, they were able to hire 34 additional people to work on their production lines, and as drivers. The Food Boxes provide farm fresh produce to create thousands of meals each week. Currently, the distributor is producing 15,000 boxes a week.
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.
"The Common Market has been wonderful to work with. Not only is the customer service great but the products are also."
— Derick Smith, Culinary / Culinary Purchaser, Cancer Treatment Centers of America