The Common Market in the News

PA Farm Bill Grants Empower Schools with Local Harvests

MyChesCo

One notable recipient, the Great Valley School District, is set to receive $15,000 to integrate local, seasonal produce such as yogurt and beef into school cafeterias. Partnering with The Common Market and local farms like Pequea Valley Farm and Frecon Farms, the district plans to not only serve fresh products but also provide educational insights into the sources of these foods. This approach promises to enrich students’ understanding of agriculture by connecting them with the origins of their meals.

Webinar: ​Getting Started: Local Food for Schools (LFS) New Jersey + The Common Market​

Learn how to get set up and start using your New Jersey Local Food for Schools (LFS) funds today! In this brief, 10-minute informational webinar, Katie Barr, Outreach Coordinator for The Common Market Mid-Atlantic, lifts up how NJ schools and food service can access what is available for order from our local, Jersey farms, what quick documentation is required to become a partner, and how to place your orders for your first local food delivery! The Common Market has composed a special New Jersey ordering guide for your ordering needs. However, be sure to inquire about our full Availability List, which includes options from farmers and producers from across the region (PA, NY, DE, MD, VA)


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.

Coalition for Healthy Food in Newark Schools Announces Launch with Multi-Year Funding from Novo Nordisk

Tap Into Newark

"The Coalition for Healthy Food in Newark Schools (HFiNS) steering committee includes agencies that serve Newark, including the Greater Newark Conservancy, The Common Market, FoodCorps NJ, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center/RWJ Barnabas Health, United Way of Greater Newark, Urban Agriculture Cooperative, Wellness in the Schools and more. All work together with the shared goal of transforming Newark’s school food system, these partners are committed to ensuring every student has access to fresh, healthy, and culturally relevant foods."

Hudson County Officials Cut Ribbon on Innovative 'Food Pharmacy'

Tap into Jersey City

"Hudson County and the three partner agencies have developed on-site food pharmacies, where patients provided food prescriptions can redeem vouchers of $40 for free fruits and vegetables on a bi-monthly basis.

The fresh, seasonal produce will be provided through a partnership with The Common Market, a regional non-profit food distributor whose mission is to provide urban communities with food from sustainable family farms."

Growing the agricultural industry through education

NJ PBS

Raven Santana sits down with farmers and agricultural experts to highlight the top crops in the state, how fresh produce makes it to our schools and the legacy of black farmers in New Jersey. Kenny Bartee from K&J Farms, a Black-owned vegetable farm in Elmer, NJ, explains his farming legacy and how The Common Market has played a role in helping him gain committed markets for his product.

Keep it Local

SNJ Today

"The Local Foods Incentive Pilot is taking off in Bridgeton Public Schools, with farm to school meals providing better nutrition, benefiting area farmers, and boosting the local economy."

Thousands of South Jersey students get access to farm-fresh meals

NJ Spotlight News

"New Jersey may be known as the Garden State but in low- and middle-income towns, getting nutritious food from farm to table is harder than you think, especially for schools. One South Jersey school district is partnering with The Common Market, a nonprofit food distributor that connects farmers with communities, to bring Jersey-fresh fruits, vegetables and meats directly to the lunch table."

Program delivers locally sourced foods to 2 NJ school districts

New Jersey 101.5

"The farm to school pilot’s goal is to provide these school districts with additional incentives, to dream with them about what that will look like, and what products they always wished they could source on their school meal lines, but maybe couldn’t afford to do, Rachel Terry said."