
Over the years more and more farmers markets have established themselves throughout D.C. Still, the sad reality is that many are still outside of the city’s traditional food deserts, the very places that could use fresh fruits and vegetables most. Last year, the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture found a way to remedy that—use a mobile farmers market to hit some of D,C,’s neediest neighborhoods.
The Mobile Market—a 28-foot-long retrofitted school bus carrying crates of fresh and local fruits and vegetables—recently kicked off its first year of service, and will be on display this Wednesday evening as it serves the community of LeDroit Park. It will offer fruits and vegetables at below-market rates for residents that use SNAP, WIC or other such food assistance programs. Whatever isn’t sold to the public will be bought by the Neighborhood Restaurant Group, which owns both Arcadia and a number of local restaurants, including Tallula, Rustico, Birch & Barley, and others.
During a Kickstarter campaign launched last year where Arcadia pulled in $15,000 for the project, it explained the purpose of the Mobile Market:
As we see it, a mobile fresh market is the most visible and direct way to navigate a number of urban spaces to get much-needed fresh food to people in the nation’s capital. In addition to regular, weekly stops in Wards 5, 7, and 8, there will be opportunities for special visits to bring food and educational resources as well as special guests—the farmers who grow our food, chefs who cook our food, and community leaders who support our food—to schools, community centers, and other vibrant spaces to promote healthy food choices.
According to Arcadia, the Mobile Market will hit five D.C. locations every Monday and Wednesday. The full schedule and locations are below.
Mondays 9:00-11:00am
Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center, 3500 MLK Jr Ave, SE
Mondays 12:00-2:00pm
The Overlook at Oxon Run, 3700 9th St, SE
Mondays 3:00-5:00pm
Anacostia Metro-Thurgood Marshall Academy, 2427 MLK Jr Ave, SE
Wednesdays 12:00-3:00pm
United Medical Center, 1310 Southern Ave, SE
Wednesdays 4:00-7:00pm
Ledroit Park/Common Good City Farm, Corner of Elm St and 3rd St, NW
Martin Austermuhle