“People have been brave. Our drivers are out on the front lines, and they were like: ‘We’re here. We’re ready to serve.’ They didn’t hesitate. I’ll remember how brave the farmers were, too. I have been so impressed at how everyone has leaped in and said, ‘We are going to keep moving and figure out how to help each other.’”
“During this time of uncertainty, we are honored to invest in our small- to medium-scale farmers, and in turn, nourish New Yorkers in need of food access,” said The Common Market Mid-Atlantic’s Executive Director, Yael Lehmann. "Local, healthy, fresh food makes a difference in one's mental and physical well-being — we're proud to source and deliver it, and serve a part in the city's emergency food relief efforts."
“I think it’s a pretty good model for what we can do when we think more holistically,” said Scanlon. In addition to bringing fresh produce into “into an area where there’s food insecurity, and there’s not access to a lot of healthy foods… it expands and provides nutritional advice, it employs kids, it provides a community focus,” she said.
The farmstand got an earlier start in the spring with Foundation for Delaware County donations to distribute produce boxes. The produce is sourced from area farms through Philadelphia-based nonprofit Common Market, which has in turn received support through USDA programs, according to Farm Manager Natania Schaumburg.
"Volunteers of the Unity & Survival program meet each Tuesday to stack boxes of fresh produce and dry goods. The food is shipped to them by their supply partners, such as The Common Market and the Share food program, and then distributed to the blocks surrounding Norris Square Park."
“[The Common Market Mid-Atlantic's Farmers to Families Program] is dearly appreciated and needed here in Philly where the boxes are being given to various individuals in the community who are now living semi-independently or independently in the community after having histories of homelessness, institutionalization, and group homes,” shared James Piasecki, Ph.D., a director at Resources for Human Development, Inc.
“Ensuring access to fresh, unrefined, locally-sourced food in our hospitals demonstrates our health system’s commitment to preventive care,” said SLUHN’s Amy Previato, MPH, CHES, Network Director, Employee Wellness Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine.
Crooked Billet-Hallowell-Learning Community kicked off a new initiative called PA Preferred on October 16. PA Preferred is a program where all food served in the school district cafeteria is either grown, manufactured, or produced in PA. The Common Market farms were supported this year through the initiative.
“Proper nutrition is essential to the health and well-being of all Pennsylvanians,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “The health systems participating in the Good Food, Healthy Hospitals program show they are committed to creating a healthy environment for their patients, staff and visitors. We are excited that this program is growing and continues to provide residents with healthy, sustainably produced products.”
The Common Market was recently awarded a contract with Newark Public Schools, the largest public school district in the state of New Jersey, to supply local produce for summer meals and salad bars. They are excited to continue building their capacity to respond to these bids, as they make farm to school a reality for our growers and our school districts.
Pennsylvania Hospital uses The Common Market, a mission-driven distributor of sustainable, local farm foods, as their trusted local food supplier. The Common Market connects institutions and communities with good food from over 200 producers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.
Our friendly and educated team is here to partner with you every step of the way. Connect today to learn of all the ways to partner with The Common Market.
"Often as a chef and manager, trying to buy local has been at the least a pain. Building a relationship with The Common Market has completely changed that experience. I know that the product I am buying is local down to the farm where it was grown. I am able to let the students know the people who grow their food so that they feel a real connection to those farmers. I look forward to a long and growing relationship with the Common Market."
— Allen Clark, Food Service Director, Sage Dining Services, Mount Vernon Presbyterian School