East Palo Alto Community Farmers' Market Opened June 1, 2008
Collective Roots has joined together with other community organizations and government officials in taking a lead role in establishing the East Palo Alto Community Farmers’ Market. This is a Certified Farmers' Market, joining a strong movement of food system change in San Mateo County.
Please download a nice 8.5" x 11" color flier/announcement to share with other by clicking here (English) or by clicking here (Spanish).
Also, download a 5.5" x 8.5" version (English & Spanish) by clicking here (this prints on 8.5" x 11" paper and then you need to cut into 2).
Please view our Farmers' Market PowerPoint presentation by clicking here.
Other similar markets in San Mateo County may be found by clicking here. See a calendar of produce in season by clicking here.
You may contact the market organizers by clicking here.
A survey is being conducted that invites community input and reflections upon this effort. Please click here is you would like to take the survey.
This market is community based and youth focused. Saree Mading, Vice Principal of East Palo Alto Charter School is picture to the left with Rafa, an 8th grade student who fell in love with gardening and farmers' markets while partipating in the large school garden at East Palo Alto Charter School. Collective Roots is the nonprofit sponsor and is seeking additional funding and support to ensure the success of this community wide effort. Farmers' Markets have been identified as an important strategy for improving children's health in low income communities. San Mateo County has identified farmers' markets as a goal in the Blueprint for the Prevention of Childhood Obesity (click here to view this report). Research published in 2006 by the EPA based Community Development Institute indicates that folks living in EPA spend approximately 68 million dollars per year on food. 
Most of the food dollars are currently leaving the community, and we believe the community of East Palo Alto deserves food system solutions that are healthy AND good for the local economy.
The EPA Community Farmers' Market will offer the opportunity for local growers and backyard gardeners to sell their produce, as long as they are certified by the Department of Food and Agriculture. Collective Roots is providing support and resources for backyard gardeners who join the Backyard Gardeners Netork. Click here to download and application.
It is hoped that the farmers' market solution will help build impetus toward creating other food system solutions that meet community needs that have been unmet for many years.
Studies show that people at farmers’ markets have as many as 10 times more conversations, greetings and other social interactions than people in the supermarkets. City planners are learning that farmers’ markets can be used to bring people together in a central location, becoming a forum for politicians, activists and other community leaders to raise awareness about local issues.
Intake of fruits and vegetables protects against several common chronic diseases, and low income is associated with lower intake. The federally-funded Women, Infants and Children (W.I.C.) program, which subsidizes food purchases for low-income women and young children, is now providing vouchers for women to shop at farmers' markets. A survey of WIC participants found that 40% had never been to a farmers market before receiving the vouchers, 94% found the produce to be as good as or better than the produce in their nearby grocery stores, and 73% ate more fresh fruits and vegetables because of the program (NAFMNP, 2003). Read more about research that demonstrates the benefits of targeting subsidies at farmers' markets serving people on low incomes.
The EPA Community Farmers' Market envisions a a role that will actively engage youth leadership in assuming key responsibilities in the operation of the market. As funding becomes available, youth leaders will be offered income opportunities by assisting with the management of the market, learning on the job management and customer relations skills. We envision a community based market that is focused on youth development.
Opportunities for nutrition education and cultural activities will be promoted at the EPA Community Farmers’ Market. Community based organizations will be invited to provide health and other activities focused on community needs and preferences. Collective Roots will provide a mobile nutrition exhibit including a popular bicycle blender. We encourage community involvement and collaboration!
For information about how the EPA Community Farmers' Market was started, click here.
"Food Mart" in East Palo Alto (photo to left) does not offer fresh fruits and vegetables. East Palo Alto has not had a supermarket in over 20 years.
There are many opportunities and challenges that we must face in order to establish a successful market. In order to participate in an online Forum regarding this issues, please click here.
To download a flier announcing that the EPA Community Farmers' Market is coming, inviting folks to join our comunity organizing meetings, click here.
For more information, please contact the EPA Community Farmers' Market Organizing Committee representatives below (click here to email):
- ("Elle") Lettecia Rayson
- Wolfram Alderson
Residents of East Palo Alto Ask For Your Help To Establish Their Own Farmers' Market
Leaders in East Palo Alto are currently asking for support and endorsements of this effort. Please contact us if you or your organization would like to provide a formal letter of endorsement. All sponsors and endorsements will be announced on this site. For your convenience, we have created a sample letter of endorsement (click here to access).
We have created a PowerPoint presentation regarding this effort that is available by clicking here. (This is a large file, so please allow plenty of time to download.) Please contact us if you would like us to personally present this exciting project to your organization or constituents.
Saree Mading, resident of East Palo Alto, Board Member of Collective Roots, and Administrator at East Palo Alto Charter School, has written an amazing letter about the initiative to develop the East Palo Alto Community Farmers’ Market. If you have a few minutes, please click here to view this inspiring letter, or click here to download a copy of the letter. We are hoping that once you have read Saree’s letter and reviewed other information on this website, you will be inspired to make a donation to Collective Roots that will support the start up of this community based effort.
Nearly 40% of our budget is contributed in-kind. This means that every dollar you give is matched with the generosity of others that stretches precious resources even further. We offer a variety of ways for donors to make a contribution. We can mail you a letter (the old-fashioned way) with a remit envelope, or you can simply click here to make a tax-deductible donation online. Our online donation form is easy to use and only takes a couple of minutes. You may designate that your contribution serve the specific purpose of supporting the EPA Community Farmers' Market.
Please use the "donate now" button on the left hand side of this page, or you may click here. On the Donate Now page where it refers to "Focused Giving," you may select "Farmers' Market in EPA" and we will designate your donation for this specific purpose.
There are many ways that you can join our efforts and support the work of Collective Roots. We welcome your involvement as a volunteer. Please review our many volunteer opportunities by clicking here.
Here are some resources that support this important initiative:
NPR show on the East Oakland Farmers' Market
San Mateo County Blueprint for Prevention of Childhood Obesity
Many thanks to Michael Levin and EPA.NET and Dennis J. Parker, who have helped share information about this effort via the web and email in East Palo Alto.
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