growingexperience

growingexperience

As one of three communities in the state to receive a California FreshWorks grant, the Carmelitos neighborhood in North Long Beach will soon be hosting The Growing Experience Farmers Market, a year-round weekly market that will bring fresh produce to the area.

The new farmers market will take place Saturdays starting September 15 at The Growing Experience Urban Farm (located inside of the Carmelitos Public Housing Project) and aims to provide the thousands of residents access to healthy food as well as cooking and nutrition programming. 

“This site was selected as an ideal location because of the high concentration of fast food restaurants, and convenience/liquor stores in the neighborhood,” said Jennifer Blackwell-Trotter, Executive Director of the Community Development Foundation of Los Angeles, the agency that was awarded the FreshWorks grant. “Additionally, oftentimes Carmelitos and other North Long Beach residents may find it difficult to travel a mile or more to reach a full service grocer that sells produce at an affordable price.”

The California FreshWorks fund gives out loans and grants that bring grocery stores and other healthy food options to underserved communities. Last month, it awarded three project grants—one to a small-format fresh food store in West Oakland, one to a non-profit so it could start a farmers market in Compton and the CDF’s Growing Experience Farmers Market in North Long Beach.

Grant money is being used by the CDF to obtain feasibility analysis and consulting to assist in the farmers market’s initial launch as well as purchase supplies and pay for marketing. All of the farmers and managers who will be hired locally.

“The FreshWorks Fund grant will help make it possible for 2,000 residents of the Carmelitos community, and surrounding North Long Beach area, to walk just steps from their homes to purchase fresh tomatoes, squash, and other locally grown produce,” Blackwell-Trotter said.

Though located near the Uptown Certified Farmers Market—held every Thursday in the parking lot on the corner of Atlantic Blvd. and 46th St.—the Growing Experience Farmers Market will be the only farmers market in Long Beach to take place on an actual farm and the one of the few accepting alternative forms of payment such as EBT/CalFresh as well as Farmers Market Nutrition Program WIC and senior vouchers.

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The Growing Experience is located at 750 Via Carmelitos. The Growing Experience Farmers Market will take place every Saturday from 9AM to 12PM starting September 15. It is open to the public.