POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess Outreach launched Poughkeepsie’s first mobile farmer’s market Thursday at the Family Partnership Center off North Hamilton Street.
The launch is in anticipation for four locations throughout Poughkeepsie that will host the mobile market weekly, one location a day for four days every week, starting Tuesday the 16th. Local foods and produce from local farms, including the Bruderhoff Community, Winterton Farms and Late Bloomer Farms, will be available at the market for affordable prices. Produce is even being grown at the new micro farm located on the Family Partnership Center grounds. All the produce is considered better than organic; meaning, absolutely no chemicals are used.
Opening day crowd
The City of Poughkeepsie is considered a “food desert.” Korey
Findley, manager of the Poughkeepsie Plenty Fresh Market, said the mobile
market is looking to give residents access to produce to which they may
not otherwise have access.
“We have two USDA classified food deserts and multiple transportation barriers,” Findley said. “So, we decided to bring the fresh, healthy local produce to those areas and to feed those in need.”
The mobile market is not just providing local, organic produce at affordable prices; they are also providing information on cooking and utilizing fresh foods for those who aren’t used to cooking with fresh ingredients.
“You know it’s not always obvious what you’re going to do with your collard greens or your turnips,” said Janet Ellsworth, an organizing member of the Poughkeepsie Plenty Fresh Market. “Here’s how you store them, prepare them and here’s some recipes you can use; so, we’re trying to also give out that kind of information as well.”
The days and locations for the mobile market will be Tuesdays at Poughkeepsie Housing Authority, Thursdays at Interfaith Towers, Fridays at the Family Partnership Center and Saturdays at Hudson River Housing. The market opens at 11 a.m. every day but Friday, when it will open at noon.
