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.”
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.”
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.”
As federal support for key USDA programs winds down, small-scale Texas farmers warn of the damaging effects on local agriculture, community health and school nutrition across the state.
Jesus Lozano, founder of Triple J Organics in Mission, TX, said these cuts threaten hard-earned progress that has made locally grown produce more accessible to families and students alike.
“It’s frustrating to see fresh, nutritious fruit left behind while families in our communities go hungry,” Lozano said. “We grow high-quality produce, but without the right buyers, it’s wasted — and so is all the work that went into it.”
Lozano has harvested 10 acres of citrus near Mission since the mid-1990s. Over the years, Lozano has had national chains such as H-E-B and Whole Foods Market buying up his organic oranges. Lozano saw a boost in business thanks to two federal programs.
The Local Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement and the Local Food For Schools Programs from the U.S. Department of Agriculture allowed Lozano and other small farmers to sell their fruits and vegetables to schools and hospitals, thanks to over $1 billion in federal funding. Those programs are now ending.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture abruptly canceled a federal program that brought fresh, locally-sourced food to Austin school cafeterias last month — a move that gutted funding for the Austin Independent School District and severed revenue streams for Texas farmers who supplied public school districts.
“With this program, we’re able to bring produce directly from farmers to the student community at UTSA,” said Hallie Casey, director of partnerships for The Common Market, in a statement. “By knowing your farmer and where your food comes from, we can guarantee you're getting the freshest food possible and the food that's going to be the most nutritious for you. It’s been a pleasure partnering with UTSA and Aramark to make this happen.”
In an effort to alleviate food insecurity within the community, Harris County Precinct 4 (Precinct 4) has partnered with The Common Market, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit regional food distributor, to offer Harris County residents access to fresh produce at designated community centers. Funded under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), this one-year partnership, commencing this month, forms part of a broader initiative to address nutritional needs within communities exhibiting higher rates of food insecurity.
This school year, the district began partnering with the Central Texas Food Bank through its newly established Food Hub Program and is continuing to work with The Common Market Texas to receive chicken, fruits, and vegetables. These organizations gather products from multiple farms in the area and deliver them to LTISD campuses.
“We saw that opportunity to harness our infrastructure that already exists to uplift small-scale producers while increasing access to nutritious food to our next generation of community members."
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"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