Farmers Market On Wheels Serves Three Counties
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You might call it the “ultimate” food truck. Members of the Grow Ohio Valley (GOV) figured out a way to bring produce to the people. Executive Director Ken Peralta purchased a former Snap-on Tools truck and had it fixed up. This summer it made 17 stops each week from June-October in three counties in the northern panhandle of West Virginia.
People who had never heard of farmers markets are waiting in line when the truck arrives, says Kacey Orr, director of operations, and one of eight growers for the nonprofit organization. She also oversees the one-acre downtown Wheeling, W. Va. garden plot, two greenhouses and five community gardens that grow food as part of the organization.
She explains that the communities they serve are small where it wasn’t affordable or convenient for lower income residents and senior citizens to travel to larger cities with farmers markets.
With the Mobile Farmers Market program, residents of all incomes have access. Senior citizens can use vouchers, and SNAP cards are matched so customers can get double value. Credit cards and checks are also accepted.
The truck (Chevrolet P-30) is “refrigerated” with a block of ice and fans running off a car battery to keep the vegetables cool. When it reaches a market site, the doors open up like a food truck and baskets of vegetables clip on the outside. People can shop like they would at a farmers market for organic and locally grown food and homemade baked goods and canned goods.
Signs on doors list specials, prices, grower information and ideas on how to prepare produce available that week. Wednesdays are also delivery days for 90 CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) customers.
The benefits of the mobile market outweigh the costs of maintaining a truck, Orr says. Sites visited include church parking lots, senior high-rises, housing developments and even businesses such as an attorney’s office.
For groups considering adding a mobile market, Orr offers tips.
• Get the word out, advertise, let customers know the benefits such as taking vouchers and SNAP cards.
• Don’t choose sites like a Walmart parking lot, where food is available. Find convenient locations for people to walk to.
• Keep prices affordable.
• Offer lots of variety. GOV also has nuts, popcorn, jams, etc.
“I think one of the biggest benefits is that this gives farmers a new outlet for profit,” Orr says.
She adds there is one more challenge with operating a market on wheels.
“It can be hard to stay on schedule,” she notes. “People want to chat. It’s the highlight of some people’s week.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Grow Ohio Valley, 1006 Grandview St., Wheeling, W.V. 26003 (ph 304 233-4769; www.growov.org).
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Farmers Market On Wheels Serves Three Counties FARM HOME Food You might call it the “ultimate” food truck Members of the Grow Ohio Valley GOV figured out a way to bring produce to the people Executive Director Ken Peralta purchased a former Snap-on Tools truck and had it fixed up This summer it made 17 stops each week from June-October in three counties in the northern panhandle of West Virginia People who had never heard of farmers markets are waiting in line when the truck arrives says Kacey Orr director of operations and one of eight growers for the nonprofit organization She also oversees the one-acre downtown Wheeling W Va garden plot two greenhouses and five community gardens that grow food as part of the organization She explains that the communities they serve are small where it wasn’t affordable or convenient for lower income residents and senior citizens to travel to larger cities with farmers markets With the Mobile Farmers Market program residents of all incomes have access Senior citizens can use vouchers and SNAP cards are matched so customers can get double value Credit cards and checks are also accepted The truck Chevrolet P-30 is “refrigerated” with a block of ice and fans running off a car battery to keep the vegetables cool When it reaches a market site the doors open up like a food truck and baskets of vegetables clip on the outside People can shop like they would at a farmers market for organic and locally grown food and homemade baked goods and canned goods Signs on doors list specials prices grower information and ideas on how to prepare produce available that week Wednesdays are also delivery days for 90 CSA Community Supported Agriculture customers The benefits of the mobile market outweigh the costs of maintaining a truck Orr says Sites visited include church parking lots senior high-rises housing developments and even businesses such as an attorney’s office For groups considering adding a mobile market Orr offers tips • Get the word out advertise let customers know the benefits such as taking vouchers and SNAP cards • Don’t choose sites like a Walmart parking lot where food is available Find convenient locations for people to walk to • Keep prices affordable • Offer lots of variety GOV also has nuts popcorn jams etc “I think one of the biggest benefits is that this gives farmers a new outlet for profit ” Orr says She adds there is one more challenge with operating a market on wheels “It can be hard to stay on schedule ” she notes “People want to chat It’s the highlight of some people’s week ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Grow Ohio Valley 1006 Grandview St Wheeling W V 26003 ph 304 233-4769; www growov org
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