The Common Market in the News

NJEDA Board Approves Over $20M in Grants to 50 Organizations to Strengthen Food Security in NJ’s Top Food Desert Communities

New Jersey Economic Development Authority

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Board recently approved more than $20.6 million in grant awards to 50 organizations under the Food Equity and Economic Development in New Jersey (FEED NJ) Pilot Program. The awards are the first set of approvals under the $30 million FEED NJ program and will support food security projects in New Jersey’s 14 most acute Food Desert Communities (FDCs), catalyzing innovative, sustainable, and scalable food access initiatives in underserved areas. The total funding of $30 million is one of the largest investments in recent years dedicated to strengthening New Jersey’s food security infrastructure.

Hackensack Meridian Health Committing Nearly $7 Million to Combat Food Insecurity Across New Jersey

​Hackensack Meridian Health

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.

Video: Building Successful Supply Chains for Farming Equity

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders

Leaders shared how they collaborate across the supply chain to advance racial and gender equity from farmland access and farm business support, institutional procurement, and purchasing. The three sectors are: Farmland Access & Farm Business Support (Farms Fund); Procurement (Common Market); and Institutional Purchasing (Emory University). Listen to inspiring success stories and also discuss challenges, lessons learned, and what comes next. We will also discuss the unique mixes of philanthropic, public, and impact investment capital that drive our business models.

Inauguran renovado almacén de The Common Market Texas en Houston

Telemundo Houston

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.

Commissioner Sid Miller Announces Grand Re-Opening of The Common Market Texas

Texas Department of Agriculture

“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.”

Montclair State’s Farm Box program brings fresh produce to students’ dorms

FoodService Director (FSD)

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.

How to Make Regenerative Food Procurement Work: Lessons from the U.S.

The Rockefeller Foundation

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.

One year later: Common Market keeps fresh food on the table in Precinct 4

Harris County Precint 4

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.”

Farm to classroom: Marietta students learn — and eat — local

Marietta Daily Journal

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.

Partnerships That Fill Every Table

United Way for Greater Austin

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.”