Mobile Farmers Market

Nutrition On The Move Info

The vision of the Mobile Farmer’s Market and Nutrition on the Move program is, essentially, a farmer’s market on wheels, carrying and distributing healthy nutritional items, particularly fresh fruits and vegetables, and nutrition education provided free of charge. The vehicle will target various low-income sites throughout San Joaquin County with the idea of distributing fresh fruits and vegetables to families with children and seniors who either have limited resources to procure such items or are unaware of the beneficial health properties these items provide the body.

Many census tracts in the county, either low-income or 185% below the federal poverty level for families, have limited access to top-line supermarkets within reasonable walking or driving distances. Although many supermarkets are prominent in suburban locations, urban areas are generally limited to liquor stores and convenience marts that contain food items high in empty calories, unhealthy preservatives and harmful fats. Furthermore, with little to no transportation, venturing out to supermarkets to acquire nutritious foods, particularly fresh fruits and vegetables, is again compromised.

The Mobile Farmer’s Market will bring access to such good nutrition to families with children and seniors in those same targeted census tracts. Therefore, if we can provide clients with fresh fruits and vegetables with hopes of decreasing hunger, food-insecurity, preventing chronic health issues and essentially raising awareness, then more families, children and seniors will increase fruit and vegetable consumption and maintain healthy lifestyle.

Our ultimate goal is to enable our clients, low-income families and seniors to understand the benefits of including 5 or more fruits and vegetables daily in their diet. This idea will in turn help families increase produce consumption, meet the dietary requirements of 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, and improve overall well-being for families with children and seniors. The long-term health benefits that these essential food items provide the bodies are extremely valuable. The concept is quite simple. If the fruits and vegetables are brought directly to the target audience in need then the residents will take the food home and eat more fruits and vegetables.

For a list of those sites or more information on the Mobile Farmer's Market please contact Federico Navarro at (209) 464-7369 or email him at fnavarro@stocktonfoodbank.org.