FLAGSTAFF — Market on the Move, a farmer’s market-style program where community members can get up to 60 pounds of fresh produce for a $15 donation, is coming to Flagstaff from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 7 at Killip Elementary School, 2300 E. 6th Ave., Flagstaff.
The event this week could be a trial run for a more regular food distribution program starting this fall, organizers reported.
Native Americans for Community Action (NACA) and North Country HealthCare’s Hermosa Vida “Beautiful Life” program in Sunnyside are partnering locally to bring the program to Flagstaff.
Organizers report the program rescues more than 30 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables from going to waste each year, helps distribute produce to more than 460,000 families in need, feeds nutritional fruits and vegetables to about 920,000 children and helps prevent diabetes. The food will be distributed at the school in a farmers-market-style setting.
Cash only and the program does not accept food stamps.
Community members are also urged to purchase the produce and distribute it to those in need.
The program was started in 2010 as part of the Phoenix-based 3000 Club, a nonprofit organization. Most of the food, about 70 percent, comes from Nogales, Mexico and usually goes to produce brokers who distribute it to local supermarkets. Produce that is rejected because it is not the right shape or is out of demand is usually sent to the landfill. Instead, the rescued produce is loaded on semi trucks and has been distributed to residents in the greater Tucson and Phoenix areas at local churches and other business and community locations.
NACA first heard about the program last year, said Chris Nez, health promotion program lead. NACA has a Community Development Block Grant to provide a health promotion program in the region.
“Our sister program in Phoenix mentioned it to us last year,” he said. “They said it was pretty popular in Phoenix and Tucson, with the program running November through May. Each weekend they set up in the valley or in Tucson.”
One event held just before Thanksgiving last year drew more than 600 people to the distribution site at Phoenix Medical Center.
If there is enough interest and support from the local community, Market on the Move may become a regular event at other locations in Flagstaff starting in November, Nez said.
Normally, the donation for 60 pounds of produce is $10. However, because of the travel distance to Flagstaff and the cost the fuel, the price was increased to $15.
One semi truck will arrive in Flagstaff this week with 36,000 pounds of produce. Any produce left over will be returned to the valley and other locations for distribution, Nez said.
“They have different organizations, food banks to distribute them to. None of it gets wasted,” he said.
The event will be held in the basketball court at Killip. As part of the program, 10 percent of any money made during the sale of the produce is given back to the host site, in this case Killip Elementary School, Nez said.
This marks a return of the program, which held an event last year in Flagstaff.
“They’ve been wanting to come back,” he said.
Call the 3000 Club at 520-373-5256, visit www.the3000club.org; or call the NACA Health Promotion Program at 928-773-1245 or visit www.strongspiritstrongheart.com for more information.