The Jamestown Mobile Market at the James Prendergast Library

Jamestown Public Market‘s Mobile Market begins its season today.

The Mobile Market brings fresh, local food to five sites around Jamestown on every Wednesday and Thursday through September 28.

Jamestown Public Market Food Access Coordinator Emily Le Blanc is overseeing the Mobile Market this season.

The Mobile Market buys produce from Abers Acres, Hidden Valley Farm, and baked goods and jams from an Amish baker, Lizzie Byler.

Every Wednesday the Mobile Market drives to local farms and bakers to pick up food for distribution. It then drives back to Jamestown with St. Luke’s Episcopal Church as the first stop. The church runs the Eat Fresh, Do Good CSA, the proceeds of which help support the Mobile Market.

The Mobile Market then drives to various locations throughout the city which include:
– The Resource Center at 890 E. Second Street, to be there from 10am to 11am.
– James Prendergast Library, from 11:30am to 12:30.
– The Chautauqua Center, staying from 1:00 to 2:00.

The Mobile Market makes two stops on Thursdays:
– Silver Tree Seniors at 8 Crane Street, from 1:00 to 2:00pm
– Bush Elementary, from 2:30 to 3:30pm.

The Mobile Market accepts cash, cards, SNAP, the Farmers Market Nutrition Program, Veggie Rx, and, starting in July, Double Up Food Bucks.

The Jamestown Public Market is continuing a collaboration with Office of the Aging’s Local Roots Program. Thanks to a grant via Blue Cross Blue Shield of WNY, a new vehicle has been added to the roster. This new sprinter van will be refrigerated, and utilized to bring produce for OFA’s program to various senior living sites across Chautauqua County.

For more information on the Jamestown Mobile Market or the Veggie RX program, visit www.jtownpublicmarket.org

(Left to Right) James Galbato, Brigiotta’s Farmland Produce; Luke Fodor, St. Luke’s Rector; Cassandra Skal and Emily Reynolds, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County; Linnea Haskin, Jamestown Public Market; Vince DeJoy, City of Dunkirk Director of Planning and Development.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County has applied for a grant to expand local food access.

CCE submitted a proposal in January for the NY Food for NY Families program, aiming to bring significant dollars to Chautauqua County focused on expanding healthy food access and economic development for local agricultural growers and producers.

Food insecurity is a high concern for Chautauqua County, with 17% of residents living below the poverty line.

Their proposal includes the implementation of several distribution sites and events across Chautauqua County, which, if funded, would begin this summer. CCE hopes to hire a coordinator who would oversee the project, working with county and regional farmers, dairy producers, and other state Agriculture producers to procure produce, dairy products, meat products, baked goods, and other local foods.

Over $500,000 would be invested in state products. Partner organizations include Brigiotta’s Farmland Produce who would be the lead partner in packaging state procured foods into up to 500 individual boxes per week. Distribution events will include collaborative sites with the Office of the Aging’s Local Roots Program, aimed at servicing senior citizens in areas such as Brocton, Cassadaga, and Fredonia; St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and the Jamestown Public Market’s Mobile Market program, aimed at low-income and minority communities; Rural Ministries of Dunkirk, aimed at servicing food insecure individuals; and Five Loaves + 20 Fish Ministries, servicing the ‘food desert’ area of Sherman/Clymer, specifically youth and families.

If awarded funds, the food boxes would be distributed at no cost to community members.

For more information on the NYS Food for NYS Families initiative visit: https://agriculture.ny.gov/news/state-department-agriculture-accepting-applications-nearly-26-million-new-york-food-new-york.