Community Food Initiatives

COMMUNITY FOOD INITIATIVES (CFI) VEGGIE VAN PROJECT ORGANIZES WEEKLY MOBILE PRODUCE MARKETS IN GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED COMMUNITIES IN ATHENS COUNTY, OHIO EIGHT MONTHS OF THE YEAR. CFI WORKS WITH A VARIETY OF LOCAL GROWERS TO STOCK THE VEGGIE VAN AND BRING THEIR PRODUCTS TO SMALL RURAL COMMUNITIES LOCATED MORE THAN TEN MILES FROM THE ATHENS FARMERS MARKET. VEGGIE VAN STAFF AGGREGATE AND TRANSPORT PRODUCE FROM LOCAL GROWERS WHO DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO TRAVEL TO ADDITIONAL MARKET SITES, HELPING CARRY THEIR PRODUCTS TO NEW LOCAL MARKETS. THE PROJECTS GOALS ARE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER AND DIVERSITY OF CUSTOMERS SHOPPING AT THE VEGGIE VAN BY IMPLEMENTING A LOCALLY-APPROPRIATE AND PROGRAM-SPECIFIC MARKETING PLAN WITH SUPPORT FROM THE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM AND THE APPALACHIAN CENTER FOR ECONOMIC NETWORKS. WE WILL EMPLOY A VEGGIE VAN MARKETING SPECIALIST TO HELP INCREASE COMMUNITY INTEREST IN PURCHASING LOCALLY PRODUCED FOOD THROUGH DEVELOPING NEW MARKETING MATERIALS, PROVIDING AND PROMOTING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, ASSEMBLING SPECIAL PRODUCE BUNDLES, AND FEATURING MEET YOUR FARMER INFORMATION AT VEGGIE VAN MARKETS THAT SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT GROWERS INCLUDING THE LOCATION OF THEIR FARM, WHAT PRODUCE THEY OFFER FOR SALE, OTHER LOCATIONS WHERE THEIR PRODUCTS CAN BE PURCHASED, AND CONTACT INFORMATION SO CONSUMERS CAN REACH OUT DIRECTLY FOR ADDITIONAL OR FUTURE PURCHASES AS THE CUSTOMER BASE GROWS, CFI WILL WORK WITH LOCAL PRODUCERS TO EXPAND THE PRODUCTS AVAILABLE AT THE MARKET.

ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY