Building our community on fresh food—five ways to join the movement

It’s a welcome sign of summer in New England: the hum of neighbors chatting as they browse over plump tomatoes and crisp greens.

This scene will repeat across the country in more than 8,000 communities every week this summer as farmers markets deliver fresh produce from local farms directly to local consumers.  The North Shore has established markets in Beverly, Essex, Gloucester, Marblehead, Salem, and Swampscott. Ipswich is launching a new market. Peabody, Middleton, and Danvers are following suit.

This is great health news for the North Shore.  According to the Farmers Market Coalition, farmers markets represent “more than just a shopping trip, [they] have become integral parts of regional food systems, economies, and social networks. Markets offer a place to connect with neighbors, meet local farmers, support local small businesses, and provide nutritious food to neighborhoods in need.”

Increasingly farmers markets are feeding people across the economic spectrum. Last year people redeemed $16.6 million SNAP dollars at farmers markets—a four-fold increase in just four years. This surge resulted from intentional market outreach, education, and participation incentives. Government and private foundations helped fuel the increase as well. Locally, the North Shore United Way’s Women in Action initiative funded SNAP incentives in Beverly and Gloucester and market coupons for low-income Gloucester seniors via SeniorCare.  Paired with investments in mobile markets and healthier food choices at child care centers, community meals, and food pantries, this trend toward fresh produce holds a promise of increased health for all.

Local farmers markets thrive on broad-based support.  Schedule a weekly shopping trip with your family and enjoy the community happening there.  You can also become a volunteer! If you are passionate about healthy food, there is surely a way to lend a hand. For example:

• Love photography or have experience with social media? You can use that skill to promote the Beverly Farmers Market. (MORE)
• Cape Ann Farmers Market seeks help with set-up and distributing information to its SNAP consumers on Thursdays. (MORE)
• Want to see how a successful Mobile Market works? The Open Door seeks help with set up at their Emerson Market on Fridays. (MORE)
• Besides set up, Beverly Bootstraps Mobile Markets involve volunteers in cooking demonstrations and kids activities. (MORE)
• SeniorCare seeks help sorting and distributing food at Brown Bag Senior Markets in Gloucester and Rockport. (MORE)

You can find these and many more volunteer opportunities improving the North Shore’s health and wellbeing on NSUW’s Volunteer Hub at volunteer.nsuw.org. The site’s goal is to help more people find meaningful volunteer connections at local nonprofits.

Thanks Beverly Farmers Market for the photo!

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Sarah Bartley is a project manager at the North Shore United Way, which invests almost $1M each year in projects that transform lives and improve communities now and for future generations.  NSUW is all about local impact by rigorously vetting and supporting dozens of causes that serve children, families, and seniors on the North Shore.  For more information about the programs funded by NSUW donors, visit nsuw.org. Find a volunteer opportunity at volunteer.nsuw.org or call 978-922-3966.