“During this time of uncertainty, we are honored to continue investing in our small- to medium-scale farmers, and in turn, nourish hungry communities,” says The Common Market Mid-Atlantic’s Executive Director, Yael Lehmann.
“This vital funding will put fresh, nutritious food on Pennsylvanians’ tables and money in the pockets of our farmers,” Wolf said.
“This is a new, innovative approach to provide critical support to American farmers and families, and USDA moved as expeditiously as federal procurement rules allow to stand up the program and solicit offers,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.
"It is organizations like The Common Market who are pushing the dialogue around what food justice and health equity means and how we all can emerge from this crisis with the evidence, tools, stories and relationships to push for lasting and transformational change in our food system."
"Assuring that people have access to nutritious, immune-boosting food is more important than ever. At the same time, those who provide the healthiest food possible must adapt to the changing landscape to stay afloat. Local farmers, food producers and farmers markets across metro Atlanta and Georgia must be able to plant, harvest and market their goods. In the current climate, this involves shifting to new models for selling and distributing their produce.”
In conjunction with the nonprofit, Texas Center for Local Food, in Elgin, The Common Market Texas is delivering thousands of pounds of local produce safely packed in individual boxes. The nonprofit is selling the food boxes; consumers are receiving vegetables and fruit chosen by Central and South Texas farmers. What's inside the box changes every week. The money goes directly to family farms, many of which are hurting due to the coronavirus.
"Farmers, food producers and farmers markets across Georgia are motivated now more than ever to increase public access to nutritious, immune-boosting food, but they will need help to plant, harvest, and shift to new models for selling and distributing their produce."
"The Common Market, a mission-driven distributor of regional farm products, is partnering with farmer and grower networks, school districts and other organizations in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Texas to provide local food to sites serving grab-n-go feeding offerings to children and youth as well as seniors, families and communities in need. In New York, they partnered with Red Rabbit, a meal provider to New York City and surrounding areas, to deliver local apples to Harlem school meal sites. In New Jersey, they partnered with Newark Public Schools to deliver 160 cases of Frecon Farms apples to Newark school meal sites."
"Houstonians who are more concerned about social distancing or want a more personal connection to their food should consider purchasing directly from a local farm. Sure, it’s great to know what produce is available or how it was grown, but buying directly from a local farm allows people to know who grew their produce."
“We put stuff in the ground two to three months before we make money on it...Between April and July is when we make a huge percent of our income on the high-dollar fruit and crops. What we do or don’t do now will affect what we make the rest of the year.”
"The Common Market Texas is bringing critical support to our region of small farmers! Without [them], businesses like ours would have fewer options for growth. As a grower for and customer of The Common Market, the benefits of this organization's work is clear. They are creating greater and meaningful access to fresh, local food."
— Daniella Lewis, Plant It Forward Farms