1 minute read
Making Fresh Food Affordable and Accessible
By David Gonzalez | Manager, Advocacy
York Fresh Food Farms is heading into their fourth year of its Mobile Produce Market operation, a farmers-market-on-wheels. As the team at York Fresh Food Farms or Y3F puts it, these mobile markets bring farm-fresh produce to underserved and food insecure neighborhoods with limited transportation options.
Photo courtesy of York Fresh Food Farms
What is the goal of Y3F?
Bruce Manns, Farm Manager for Y3F, shares “when it comes to food justice our role is filling the need to provide equal access and equal opportunity.” Y3F will work toward this goal by running their mobile produce market six days a week from June to November and offering produce that is often 75% of the cost at grocery stores, effectively providing produce that is affordable and accessible.
How has Y3F adjusted to meet demands?
Y3F is working to meet the demand of not only fresh food access, but they also work to accommodate what their customers request. Y3F has introduced new produce like calabaza, habanero peppers, okra, and increased their volumes of potatoes and onions. Additionally, Y3F will begin providing transport ready plants so residents may grow their own peppers or onions in their yards.
Photo courtesy of York Fresh Food Farms
What would Y3F like to communicate to the public?
Selah Phillips, Assistant Farm Manager, “shared that the produce we grow is for everyone. Anyone can purchase our produce and we are open to ways reach our goal of increasing access and affordability.” Most recently, Y3F has worked on a partnership to provide 10 weeks of produce boxes to families in need in the York City School District over summer 2021.
