"Marcela Moreno, a research associate at the Strategic Energy Institute, signed up for the program during its first season and found that it has revolutionized how she shops...[she] noted that it’s more affordable than other produce subscriptions she has tried, and the amount is manageable. It also forces her, at times, to be more creative with her cooking and try new foods."
"Good Food, Healthy Hospitals is unique in that participating hospitals actively collaborate to make the healthy choice the easy choice and create systemic change in healthcare across Philadelphia," says Catherine Bartoli, Healthy Food Procurement Coordinator at the Philadelphia Department of Health.
"Still, the broader trend toward offering consumers healthy local meat, seafood, fish and produce shows no signs of abating. Johnston, founder of The Common Market in Philadelphia, noted that his decade-old nonprofit, which creates a bridge between small local farmers and underserved, at-risk populations, has been growing exponentially since it opened and this year went national."
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sunny Perdue announced that Houston local food distributor The Common Market Texas received a $500,000 grant as a 2018 awardee of the Local Food Promotion Program.The Common Market Texas will use the grant to invest in local family farms, helping them to earn certifications in food safety and sell to wholesale customers in Houston such as hospitals, schools, universities, or restaurants.
$13.45 million is directed to 44 projects to support the development and expansion of local and regional food businesses to increase domestic consumption of, and access to, locally and regionally produced agricultural products, and to develop new market opportunities for farm and ranch operations serving local markets through the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP).
For the last decade, The Common Market has spread affordable access to locally-sourced nutrient-dense food to the city’s neediest. Now its mission is spreading nationwide.
"...Another kind of market has hit the town to make sure Texas eats what Texas makes. The Common Market, known in the policy world as a “food hub” has just opened for business in Houston."
Our BIG FOOD Stars series continues in conversation with Daniel Abelson, Purchasing and Logistics Manager for Honeygrow, about how his BIG fast casual chain is scaling nationally, responsibly. Maddie Morales, Outreach Coordinator for The Common Market, chimes in about the impact restaurant chains that prioritize local sourcing can have on farmers and foodmakers.
Rolader says The Common Market is trying to build a regional food system that develops more personal connections between producers and consumers by 'giving farmers a chance to tell their story.'
Preventable chronic diseases are linked to poor diet and lack of access to healthy foods. Healthy foods not only provide adequate nutrition but also promote public health while improving environmental and economic sustainability.
"The Common Market is that bridge between our institutions and the farmers... We love their products!"
— Patterson Watkins, Chef/Manager, Cafe Bon Appetit, University of Pennsylvania