Who are we?
The Produce Cart is a mobile farmers market that will be stationed in areas with a high percentage of low-income families. The Produce Cart will strive to reach audiences that have trouble accessing fresh foods while being competitive in pricing to attract all customers to the market. The Produce Cart is a collaborative project between the following agencies:
·Community Partnership Inc. will be the lead organization for this project. CP is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) community action agency service in Butler County, Pennsylvania. The agency’s purpose is to combat the causes and conditions of poverty in Butler County. Its mission is to mobilize partners for transformative change. CP’s vision is to help create transformed communities that are healthy and offer economic opportunities for all residents, individuals, and families in their communities. This vision allows community residents to be stable, economically secure, engaged, and active citizens.
·Penn State Extension will collaborate with CP to provide nutrition education materials (e.g. recipe cards) to customers at the market.
·Aliquippa Food Council has been a supporting member in the design and promotion of the mobile market.
Staff
Randy Carter
Randy is the coordinator of the mobile market known as The Produce Cart, acting as a primary face and mouthpiece in THE COMMUNITY.
Dr. Sandra Curry
Has a long history of educational accomplishments with her latest being receiving a doctorate in Strategic Leadership from Regent University. As CP’s Executive Director, she is tasked with the administration of the Community Services Block grant funds (CSBG) in Butler County, as well as the development of agency programs in entrepreneurship, agriculture, food security, and community and economic development.
She’ll be using her connections in the three counties to bridge gaps and provide the best service to the customers. She has previously worked in Aliquippa for ten years, lives in New Castle, and is still heavily involved in boards and organizations in each community.
History
In 2018 Community Partnership Inc. (CP) performed a Community Needs Assessment (CNA) which revealed a need for better access to transportation and healthy foods throughout Butler County. In response, The Produce Cart was commissioned to reach individuals experiencing these challenges where they are, across a variety of public and residential locations.
Community Partnership was also approached by the Aliquippa Food Council to help serve a similar need for fresh produce access in downtown Aliquippa. Options to fund the project were limited due to its narrow scope, so the Council partnered with The Produce Cart, adding Aliquippa as a market location outside of Butler County.
While initial discussions with the Aliquippa Food Council were being held, Community Partnership was also in touch with the Sisters of the Humility of Mary. As part of a merger, CP will assume operational management of the Villa Maria Farm while continuing existing programs, including produce donations to food banks, a CSA Share, and sales to the kitchen on the property. To continue the Sisters’ efforts and further the connection in Lawrence County, CP designated New Castle as a priority area.
These interactions defined the initial working area for the Produce Cart as Aliquippa, Butler, and New Castle when it