Market Basket Project

The 2010 Market Basket Project began Tuesday June 22 at the Elliot St. Cafe from 4-6pm!!

Building off of a 2009 market in Westgate Housing Community, we set up in the parking lot of Elliot St. Cafe each Tuesday from 4-6pm. This season there are three farms participating and right now there are over 40 people signed up, with capacity for around 50. We offer half baskets for 1-2 people at $9/week and full baskets for 2+ people at $17/week. We ask that participants qualify for 3 squaresVT/Food Stamps and that they commit to the full season which started June 22nd and goes until September 28th. People are able to chose which vegetables they want, so most everyone goes away happy. Throughout the season we will have over 65 different vegetables from these 3 farms: SIT Farm, Amazing Planet Farm and Justice Center, and Hearts Bend Farm.

This program works to:

Support local economy by building a local food system - supporting small farms

It supports new farms in finding a reliable market
It addresses the lack of affordable local produce for low-income families, while also working towards a fair return for farmers
It increases the number of people who buy local and raises consciousness about the importance of the local economy/food system

Provide good local food to low-income consumers by addressing key barriers

High retail costs: The CSA style of this market, makes it possible to sell at wholesale prices
High up-front costs of CSAs: Participants pay by the week, but make a commitment to the whole season
Transportation limitations: Market is located downtown
Knowledge of and skills to cook, store and preserve seasonal produce: Participation includes weekly recipes, taste-tests, and volunteers who pass on information about produce
Food stamps are accepted which:
- supports local farms with federal dollars
- supports local consumers with more fresh produce options for EBT

Build Community

Music, activities, taste-tests, and art all make for a fun event.
It is a chance for neighbors to hang out because it is located in a neighborhood
It provides opportunities for discussion about who is included in community and who is left out, as well as who has access to local food
It raises the issue of the food insecurity of low-income community members
There is potential for community building through farm visits and community meals

Provide Education

Importance of supporting small farms
Eating in-season vegetables
Cooking – weekly recipes
Food preservation – demonstrations, pickles

Build Sustainability

We are creating replicable systems, and will publish a guide so that this project can be easily replicated elsewhere
Collaboration shares the workload and gets more people involved in a community project, as well as begins the process of handing over an innovative project to a more traditional organization like a church or other community institution

More info: