by Rosemary Tayler
The Good Food Box and the Anti-Poverty/Hunger Project out of Overbrook-Forbes Community Resource Centre are collaborating with community health centres across the city to offer four pilot Good Food Markets this summer. The goal of this initiative is to bring fresh, healthy, affordable vegetables and fruit to neighbourhoods where they might not be available and where farmers’ markets are not viable because sales are too low to cover farmers’ costs.
Natasha Beaudin, the Good Food Box Program Coordinator, stated: “We are modeling these community-based markets after those in Toronto, where they have been very successful. Of course, the Ottawa markets will have their own distinctive traits and qualities, based on their neighbourhoods. Each market relies on volunteers and each team makes their own decisions about time, place and what they will have for sale. The Good Food Box Program acts as support to the community partners, trains the volunteers, orders the produce from a wholesaler and local farmers and delivers it to the specified locations. Over time, we intend to expand our working relations with farmers and offer more produce directly from nearby farms. These pilot markets are helping us evaluate the demand and determine what works well.”
Beaudin recently traveled to Toronto and talked directly with organizers of Good Food Markets there. Each market uniquely reflects its community and is a vibrant and important gathering place, providing opportunities for neighbours to meet, share information and celebrate. Over time, many markets add other features such as children’s activities, information about social issues and how to prepare certain foods.
She commented, “At our pilot markets we hope to feature community food advisors, who are volunteers with Ottawa Public Health. They will provide information on healthy eating, give out recipes and samples, and be available to answer any questions people might have about food.
“This summer, we are moving ahead with four pilot Good Food Markets in four neighbourhoods. These will be located in Rochester Heights, Michele Heights, Strathcona Heights and at Nanny Goat Hill Community Garden. I am very excited about this initiative and amazed at how many people are volunteering to help at each of these markets.”
For more information on the Good Food Box program, go to www.OttawaGoodFoodBox.ca