Houghton-Jones/ Saginaw East-Central (HJ/SENA) was recently awarded a $5,000 grant from the Saginaw Community Foundation to create a neighborhood farmer’s market for fresh produce in collaboration with Saginaw Valley State University, Downtown Saginaw Farmers’ Market (DSFM), MSU Cooperative Extension Saginaw County, and The Michigan Farmers’ Market Association. This year also marks the centennial celebration of the Downtown Saginaw Farmers’ Market. The small-scale, satellite Downtown Saginaw Farmers’ Market will purchase local produce for resale to the public at Houghton-Jones Resource Center, Fridays, 3p.m.-6p.m., July 23- Sept. 10. The market will be fully equipped to accept SNAP/EBT/Bridge Card payments (formerly known as the USDA Food Stamp program), making fresh produce more accessible and available to local residents.

Access to healthy food is a problem in many urban areas, including Saginaw. Evidence exists that access to fresh produce is a problem in parts of Michigan. Even for those who can make it to a store that sells fresh produce, the cost of healthy food can be difficult to negotiate. In many cases, unhealthy, processed food is cheaper, does not spoil, and is readily available. National level research indicates that factors such as these have led to lower consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables by low-income populations. Currently in the state of Michigan, 12.2 percent of the population is classified as being food insecure, or lacking reliable and consistent access to healthy (fresh, non-emergency or food pantry) food. This is an increase over 9.6 percent, which it was a decade ago. However, an MSU study indicates that the growth in consumption of locally grown food has the potential to create significant job opportunities in Michigan.

The goal is to increase access and consumption by creating a small satellite of the DSFM, which will be located in the parking lot of the Houghton-Jones Resource Center on Johnson Street. This satellite market or mini-market will be operated as a distribution site for fresh produce, which will be obtained from local farmers who sell at the DSFM. It will also provide a site for sale of produce grown by the Saginaw County Youth Farm Stand Project.

The neighborhood farmers’ market will benefit local farmers who have a guaranteed market for their vegetables at the beginning of the season. This benefits the local agricultural economy. The Downtown Saginaw Farmer’s Market as a partner provides logistic benefits for both the farmer and the neighborhood association.

In 2008, the Saginaw Community Foundation funded a proposal from the Saginaw Urban Food Initiative. This project, which involved developing new ways to provide fresh produce in Saginaw through hydroponics, highlighted both the problem of fresh produce availability and the potential to grow food in urban areas. This project builds off that initial grant by collaborating with additional community partners and expanding from production to marketing. If the mini-market model proves to be effective, it could easily be replicated in other parts of Saginaw or in other communities. For more information, contact Dr. Brian Thomas at bjthoma1@svsu.edu.

LINKS TO PAST PROJECTS:

SAGINAW URBAN FOOD INITIATIVE VIDEO



GREEN CARDINAL ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIOLOGY MENTORING PROJECT VIDEO