The Common Market in the News

Despite Bumpy Rollout, Food Box Program Supports Farmers and Hungry Americans

National Farmers Union

"For the farmers, it’s been a win-win – providing support for those in need while also providing an opportunity to keep their farms afloat. 'Seeing our shiitake mushrooms reaching local communities warms our hearts and makes us proud of what we do every day,' shared Howard Berk of Ellijay Mushrooms, a mushroom farm located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. 'The Common Market has given us a lifeline in these uncertain times with the opportunity to supply our mushrooms in the USDA farm boxes.'”

Food organizations team up for farmers relief campaign

WALBNews10

"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."

Southwest Georgia Project launches crop planning workshop

The Southwest Georgia Project for Community Education Inc. will launch its crop planning workshop in collaboration with The Common Market and Global Growers...The Southwest Georgia Project, The Common Market and Global Growers are all community-based organizations that strive to meet consumer demands for locally grown produce by connecting farmers to consumers. The objective of the crop planning workshop is to train socially disadvantaged farmers on proper record-keeping, crop planning, and succession planting.

YMCA & Common Market Partner to Share the Harvest

The YMCA

"Our partnership with The Common Market allows us to share the harvest on a much larger scale than our students can produce within our early learning gardens. Through Y early learning centers, The Common Market distributes fresh, organic fruits and vegetables to families within our community that might not have access to them otherwise."

Two Atlanta SQF-certified companies talk food safety and how they serve their markets

Independent Processor

"We are the only local food hubs in the country to have SQF certification,” said Lily Rolader, director of The Common Market Southeast. “The reason we explored the SQF certification is that we want to play a role in legitimizing the local food space and making our customers feel comfortable to local food is safe."

Supporting children and families with fresh, healthy food

Michael & Susan Dell Foundation

"The Common Market is a food hub founded in 2008 in Philadelphia to overcome the multiple barriers that stand between local institutions and the food grown in their region. Not only does The Common Market work with institutions to help them increase local food purchases, it also works with farmers to help them earn quality certifications and implement best practices, and to handle food distribution logistics. After great success in Philadelphia, The Common Market launched a second hub in Atlanta in 2016."

Farm Share Program Brings Harvest to Campus

Georgia Tech News Center

"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 for the Common Good

Carolina Alumni Review

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.'