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News & Events
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Mobile Market Delivers Fresh Fare Posted in the Oakland Tribune on Monday, September 22, 2003 Written by Matthew Green, Correspondent Oakland ~ McClymonds High School had just let out on a recent afternoon when a big orange truck blasting hip hop music swung into view, parked and threw open its doors for business. The handful of students who walked up the ramp into the back of the truck found themselves surrounded by shelves of organic produce and natural food -- not your average snack truck. "I dunno nothing about it, but the food's good," said Ashley Dison, a McClymonds senior, sampling a strawberry. "I think its a good idea." The Mobile Market, staffed by local high school students and young adults, started rolling this month. It passes by McClymonds in the afternoons, during its thrice-weekly route around West Oakland. With shelves lining the walls, a scale and even a mini-refrigerator stocked with juice and natural sodas, the truck is essentially a portable farmers market. West Oakland has only one real grocery store for its 32,000 residents, 76 percent of whom live below the poverty line, said Malaika Edwards, co-director of People's Grocery, a local nonprofit group that created the market. Meanwhile, she added, there are 36 liquor stores and scores of fast food joints, resulting in high levels of malnutrition throughout the community. "This is a way of bringing it to you," she said, noting that senior citizens who have trouble getting out have been particularly receptive to the market, especially those who grew up with fresh produce. Demi Boswell, 15, a 10th grader at Oakland Tech who lives in West Oakland and works for the market, agreed. "There isn't money here and when people are poor, they don't have access to organic food," Boswell said. The small group of students who get paid to work for the market also participate in two other programs run by People's Grocery, offering lessons in nutrition, food politics and entrepreneurship. In addition, they work the land of six nearby community gardens. "It's cool. If it wasn't for this job I'd be sitting at home, being dumb," said participant Gerry Edmonds, 16, as he helped plant seeds in a garden outside Hoover Elementary School. "It made me think about owning my own business and putting more money (in) the community." About 5 p.m. last Tuesday, the market pulled up in front of the West Oakland BART station to catch residents on their way home. "Most people in West Oakland are limited. We don't have lots of options," said West Oakland native Malcolm Wiley after buying some green grapes. "I was about to go to the grocery store to get grapes, but they wouldn't be this sweet." The Mobile Market grand opening party is from 2 to 6 p.m. today at the West Oakland YMCA, 3265 Market St. For a Mobile Market schedule, call 504-0323 or visit www.peoplesgrocery.org The Oakland Tribune: Cityside
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