This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
Antioch resident Justine Bobo looks forward to buying colorful, fresh produce on Tuesday mornings. She credits the Fresh Approach food truck for giving her a new appreciation for healthy foods.
“It makes me feel good to know that someone cares for us older senior citizens,” she said. “We just flourish from getting these fresh vegetables every week. I think of the time that’s put into packing it up and bringing it to us – thank you!”
Fresh Approach is a Bay Area nonprofit dedicated to connecting residents to healthy food from California farmers and to expanding knowledge in the community about food and nutrition. Its mobile farmers’ market truck, stocked with fresh fruits and vegetables, serves six cities in three Bay Area counties.
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“The COVID-19 pandemic and recent inflation concerns have increased the number of Bay Area residents who face food insecurity,” said Fresh Approach Food Access Program Manager Ellen Olack. “We’ve seen lots of changes pre- and post- pandemic. More folks are coming out each week.”
The Fresh Approach truck stops at two Antioch locations on Tuesdays – the Antioch Senior Center and the Sutter Delta Medical Center. The Antioch route and a similar route in Richmond are funded in part by Kaiser Permanente.
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Yvette Radford, Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California vice president of External and Community Affairs, noted that having access to affordable, nutritious food is critical for good health.
“That’s why we have partnered with Fresh Approach to provide fresh produce every week to East County residents who are struggling to make ends meet during these challenging economic times,” she said. “This partnership reflects our deep commitment to improve health in the communities we serve and help people live longer, healthier lives.”
Fresh Approach offers a 50 percent discount to customers who participate in income-based benefit programs, including CalFresh (SNAP), WIC, SSI/SSDI, Medi-Cal and unemployment.
“I’m a farmers’ market freak,” said Antioch resident Lucy Meinhardt. “This one keeps me going. It’s got some of the freshest, best produce you’re going to find. A lot of it is organic and I don’t have to go far.”
Fresh Approach Community Ambassador Towanna Turner said her primary goal is to help Richmond residents prevent various diseases by providing easy access to nutrient-rich food.
“I’ve seen people with tears in their eyes because they’re so grateful for healthy food,” she added. “I love being an ambassador because I’m able to help people live better lives.”
Every Tuesday, the Fresh Approach Mobile Farmers’ Market truck stops at the Antioch Senior Center, 415 W 2nd Street, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It moves to the Sutter Delta Medical Center, 3901 Lone Tree Way, from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
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