The Common Market in the News

Small farms face big losses from cuts to USDA food programs

The Produce News

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.”

Hidalgo County (TX) citrus grower reacts to end of program that helped schools serve food from local farmers

KRGV 5 News

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 University of Texas at San Antonio is combatting food insecurity through local sourcing

Food Service Director

“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.”

Lake Travis ISD brings food from Central Texas farms to campus cafeterias

Community Impact Austin

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."

UTSA Tackles Food Insecurity While Supporting Local Farmers

University of Texas at San Antonio

In a groundbreaking collaboration, UTSA Dining has partnered with The Common Market Texas, a nonprofit food distributor, and UTSA’s Roadrunner Pantry to launch the Farm-Fresh Box Program. This initiative brings fresh, locally-sourced produce boxes to the campus community, providing critical support for those facing food insecurity while also supporting local farmers and underutilized farms.

Familias de bajos recursos reciben mercados gratis en Alief

Telemundo Houston

The Common Market Texas (CMTX), a leading nonprofit food distributor, announced that it has distributed 1.8 million pounds of local food this year throughout Texas. Over 200,000 pounds of fresh and healthy food have been distributed to hundreds of seniors and families facing food insecurity in Houston alone thanks to community partner, BakerRipley. To help commemorate this milestone, CMTX hosted a momentous Farm-Fresh Box distribution to residents enrolled in BakerRipley’s Senior Health and Wellness program on Thursday, October 19 at the Alief Neighborhood Center.

New Food Pantry called “Feeding Our Future” grand opening takes place Today

CW39 Houston

The “Feeding Our Future” Food Pantry is a result of collaborative efforts between the Houston Housing Authority, the American Heart Association, The Common Market Texas, Fit Houston, Civic Heart Community Services, Sankofa Research Institute, and our other community partners. Its primary goal is to bridge the food insecurity gap for the residents of Cuney Homes, a community within the Third Ward and is one of many upcoming projects HHA and its Community Neighborhood Initiative (CNI) have planned to help revitalize Cuney Homes and the Third Ward community.

Meridian Doubles Local Food Purchases

"Meridian School’s Food Services Department has more than doubled local food purchases this year, thanks to a partnership through the Texas Dept. of Agriculture with the Sustainable Food Center and The Common Market. What is local? For Meridian, that means any Texas products."