Martha’s Table/Arcadia mobile markets Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture has partnered with Martha’s Table to launch a second mobile market, owned, managed, and operated by Arcadia. These bright green, “pop-up” farm markets supply food insecure communities with healthy, affordable, local, and sustainability produced food, including fresh produce and a variety of proteins.14,15 Arcadia’s mobile markets set up at 18 different sites in the Metro D.C. area each week, including one stop in Prince George’s County.
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In 2013, the original mobile market operated a weekly stop at the Mary’s Center in Adelphi. In 2014, the second mobile market operated in Mount Rainier at Thomas Stone Elementary.
Arcadia underwent lengthy permitting processes to operate in Prince George’s County, resulting in high fees and delaying the start of the 2013 market season by two months. Both of these factors inhibit economic viability. Arcadia is interested in finding solutions to these barriers and is seeking partnerships to meaningfully expand their services into Prince George’s County. Arcadia offers the following programs/resources:
Bonus Bucks Arcadia’s mobile markets accepts SNAP, WIC, and Senior FMNP vouchers and doubles their purchasing power through a matching incentive “Bonus Bucks” program. Purchases made with food assistance payment methods comprised more than 40 percent of sales in 2013, and more than 50 percent in 2014, illustrating the unmet demand for farm fresh foods by low-income customers.16
The Arcadia Mobile Market Seasonal Cookbook Arcadia offers cooking demonstrations and has published The Arcadia Mobile Market Seasonal Cookbook to highlight recipes incorporating WIC staples with seasonal produce in simple and delicious preparations. These cookbooks are provided free of charge for customers using any form of food assistance.
Martha’s Market In 2014, Arcadia’s mobile market in Prince George’s County also accepted 10 dollar vouchers for fruits and vegetables provided to families with students at Thomas Stone Elementary by Martha’s Table. This partnership extended the Martha’s Market program into the summer months when school is not in session and when the monthly grocery distribution program goes on hiatus. It also allowed Martha’s Table families to select their produce distribution from the bounty of local, seasonal produce.
Crossroads Community Food Network The mission of Crossroads Community Food Network mission is to improve access to fresh, local, healthy food through innovative programs and models that support both those who grow our food and those who eat it. They focus on residents of Takoma/Langley Crossroads. This diverse, largely immigrant area sits at the border of Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. Some of their programs include: New mobile market launches. http://marthastable.org Interview with Benjamin Bartley, Food Access and Mobile Market Director, Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture. September 18, 2014. 16 Pamela Hess, Executive Director, Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture. Presenter, Prince George’s County Food Equity Forum. September 18, 2014. 14 15
Page A-66 Prince George’s County Food System Study