The Common Market in the News

Farm to School Program a Win-Win-Win for Georgia Students, Farmers and Community

The Citizens

Something fresh is growing at Rockdale County Public Schools. The district is prepped to launch a new local foods pilot program supporting small farms led by people of color, women and others historically excluded from market opportunities while exposing students to more locally grown, nutritious food. The program recently kicked off with new recipe development and nutrition training workshops held Jan. 17-18 at C.J. Hicks Elementary and J.H. House Elementary, celebrating Georgia-sourced fruits, vegetables and meats.

Rockdale County Public Schools launches farm-to-school pilot to expose students to more fresh foods, expands opportunities to minority farmers

On Common Ground News

“We are so excited to support innovation within the RCPS school nutrition department and to honor our state’s small, sustainable growers in the process,” said Emily Hennessee, program manager of The Georgia ACRE Collective. “Through this work, we hope to build the case for statewide adoption of a local food incentive program for school meals across Georgia.”

Black, Family-Owned Georgia Farm, Local Lands, Nabs Funding And Aims To Support 'The Southern Side Of Metro Atlanta'

Blavity

[The Common Market] aims to help local farms provide food to essential institutions such as schools, hospitals, universities, and large-scale government contracts.

“This past year has been very, very good for us,” Asa Ysrael, head farmer at Local Lands, said. “The LFPA (Local Food Purchase Assistance) program has allowed us to scale up. It gives us security, so we don’t have to worry about if the product gets sold. We can focus on other variables that aren’t controllable. I’m happy about that.”

Local Lands, A Black-Owned Farm, Widens Reach For Georgia Residents To Combat Food Deserts

Black Enterpise

“Historically underserved farmers have long been excluded from wholesale opportunities,” explained The Common Market Southeast Executive Director Bill Green.

“This program builds on the work begun during the USDA’s pandemic-era contracts to engage historically underserved producers, promoting sustainability and equity in local food systems while delivering fresh, ecologically responsible produce to communities.”

Cooking in the Classrom with Ms. Erica Lewis

Exchange Press

"In partnership with The Common Market, The Caring Center sources as much fresh produce and protein as possible from local farmers (including the delicious, local apples Ms. Erica used recently to make “Apple-pie-in-a-cup” with the children.

How this East Point nonprofit is helping BIPOC, women-owned farmers grow

11Alive

New numbers show a local nonprofit has distributed more than $2 million since 2022. It's money helping Black, Indigenous and female farmers grow in Georgia. Local Lands, a Black-owned and family-operated poultry farm in Lamar County has benefited from the state funds distributed by The Common Market Southeast. Right now, the East Point nonprofit is helping farms like Local Lands through the state's Local Food Purchase Assistance Program.

Boosting Healthy Food Solutions Where They're Needed Most

In Ballard Spahr’s most recent pro bono representation of The Common Market, lawyers from the firm’s Business and Transactions Department advised on a strategic merger that extends the nonprofit’s network of healthy food hubs to the Greater Chicago area.