(Re)Meet Jeremy, Arcadia's newest addition to the Mobile Market team

We're excited to welcome back Jeremy, who was an Arcadia Farm intern last season.  Starting in July, he'll be behind the wheel of our second Mobile Market vehicle.  

What are you most excited about for this position (and returning to Arcadia)?

I'm looking forward to closing the loop on the farm-to-table process; I spent much of last summer interning for Arcadia Farm at Woodlawn, but didn't really get to see where the food went. I'm excited to finally see the connection between the hard work of growing food and how the Mobile Market works to increase food security in low income neighborhoods. I'm also excited about all of the learning opportunities that meeting and working with such a diverse group of customers and staff with afford.

What experiences have prepared you for this position?
 
After spending a few seasons working on small farms in Virginia and North Carolina, I started interning with Stephen at Arcadia Farm and learning about sustainable farming practices. More recently, I have been working for a DC-based online grocery store that works in a similar way to Arcadia, by way of connecting local farmers and consumers through alternate forms of food distribution.

If you were a vegetable, what would you be?

Asparagus; it takes several seasons to mature, but only last a few weeks each season. When I think of a food best enjoyed seasonally and locally, I think of asparagus.

Which season has the best produce, and why?

Summer, but more specifically, stone fruit season. There is nothing better than sweet peach juice running down your chin.

Meet Anna, our Mobile Market Fellow from Tufts University!

We are pleased to be hosting our fifth fellow from Tufts University this summer.  Anna will be joining the team for the next ten weeks, helping to operate our soon-to-be 18 weekly Mobile Market stops and conducting program evaluation. 

What are you most excited about for this Fellowship?

I am most excited about sharing my passion for healthy food with the communities the Mobile Market serves.  I can’t wait to learn more about the neighborhoods, and to see how the Mobile Market can most effectively serve them.

What experiences have prepared you for this position?

I grew up in town in Maine densely populated with farms and agriculture. Farming is in my blood! As a community health major at Tufts University, I feel I have a solid academic understanding of disparities in health outcomes due to unequal access to food. I am excited to put my classroom-based knowledge into action! Additionally, I work to alleviate some of the barriers to food access in Boston’s neighborhoods, including helping to improve transportation, and increasing knowledge about healthy cooking. I hope to bring these experiences with me to Arcadia.

If you were a vegetable, what would you be?

I would be rainbow chard, because I’m resilient, hearty, and colorful!

Which season has the best produce, and why?

Spring! Fiddleheads and snap peas and rhubarb! All fleeting, so you have to act fast.

Meet Farmer Lauren!

Say howdy to Lauren Young,  Arcadia's new  farm manager! While Farm Director Stephen Corrigan works on Arcadia's second production farm (more on that in a future post) Lauren has tackled our headquarters farm at Woodlawn. She comes to Arcadia from the USDA's organic research program and will be doing some cool stuff in our fields. An animal lover (see above), we anticipate her reign to usher in a new era of peace and cooperation with our resident groundhogs and squirrels.

What most excites you about joining Arcadia?

Several things excite me about joining Arcadia, but I will limit it to three.  
First, I am very excited to be working with and learning from (in no particular order): Stephen, Morgan, Ben, Pam, Matt, JuJu, Janet, and all of the very enthusiastic and hard-working volunteers.  

Second, I am excited about drawing on my past experiences to help further Arcadia's mission.

Third, I think Arcadia's commitment and approach to food and cooking education is very exciting and unique.  Not only does Arcadia grow, source, and transport food to people that need it, they are also committed to ensuring that the food will be enjoyed through cooking education for adults and farm camp for children.          

What have you done in the past that's prepared you for this work?

I have been involved with sustainable agriculture research in one way or another for about ten years.  I have degrees in Environmental Science and Ecology.

My high school had an Agriculture and Horticulture program and we even had a "Bring Your Tractor to School Day."  Understanding where food comes from and the hard work that goes into it was very intuitive for my community and me.  It was not until college, when I took classes in Environmental Science and Biology, that I realized how disconnected people can be from their food system.  I found it amazing that folks could be concerned about their environment and what lives there yet know so little about the land use that comprises about half of the land area of the US, agriculture.

If you were a vegetable, what would you be? 

Coffee is actually a fruit, but I think I would be coffee because I am usually well caffeinated.  

Which season has the best produce, and why?

I like all of the seasons.  I cannot pick one.  I love spring asparagus; tomatoes and cantaloupe in the summer; apples and squash in the fall; and red cabbage and citrus in the winter. I like the challenge of having a lot of something around and then figuring out the ways I am going to use it. By the time I have had enough of it, something else has come along.  

Meet Janet: Park Ranger turned Mobile Market Operator

We're excited to be expanding our Mobile Market team this year to include Janet Hofman.  She'll be helping to increase our capacity to ten weekly market stops per week. She's a great addition to the team, with a wide range of experiences. 

What most excites you about joining Arcadia?

I am most excited about meeting new people and teaching them about the variety of food that is grown locally, right in our own region.

What have you done in the past that's prepared you for this work?

When I was a Park Ranger, my main job was to develop and present a variety of programs to our visitors, educating them about our resources and, more importantly, hoping to inspire them to appreciate and care for our environment.

I think my passion for food and the farm-to-table process began when I became a vegetarian and, for the first time, was really aware of what my food was and where it came from. That passion has grown over the years while working in various restaurants, a retail food market, taking culinary classes, and traveling. I'm pretty sure my cooking has improved during these journeys as well!

If you were a vegetable, what would you be? 

I would like to be a watermelon radish because it is vibrant and spicy.

Which season has the best produce, and why?

Although I enjoy being creative with root veggies in the winter, I am always longing for more fruit and delicious tomatoes!  So, I'll have to say summer.  As a kid, I always looked forward to going up north in Michigan to pick wild blueberries. 

Spring2Action Facebook and Twitter Contests

Arcadia is announcing a two new contests to support our Spring2Action Campaign to Launch a 2nd Mobile Market. Both contests will end at 11:59 PM on April 9th, 2014.

Facebook Contest
Prize: Two tickets to Arcadia's Spring Farm Dinner on June 8th, 2014 at Woodlawn Estate in Alexandria, VA. If you are unable to attend the Spring farm Dinner, you may transfer your tickets, or exchange them for 2 tickets to an available Arcadia Master Course.

How to Enter: Enter at Arcadia's Facebook Page by posting a comment to the original contest post. We appreciate, but do not require shares of the original post.

Rules:
- One entry per person
- You must be over 18 to enter the contest
- Comments must be made before 11:59 PM on 4/9/2014
- You may enter both the Facebook and the Twitter contests

Legal Stuff:

- You do not need to donate to the campaign to enter the drawing, but we'd like it if you did. 

- This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, facebook.

- By entering, you release Facebook of all liability for this contest.

Winner Announcement: Winners will be selected by random drawing and announced on Facebook by 5 PM on April 10, 2014.

Twitter Contest
Prize: Two tickets to Arcadia's Spring Farm Dinner on June 8th, 2014 at Woodlawn Estate in Alexandria, VA. If you are unable to attend the Spring farm Dinner, you may transfer your tickets, or exchange them for 2 tickets to an available Arcadia Master Course.

How to Enter: Enter by retweeting the original contest tweet from @ArcadiaFood. Only retweets of Arcadia's original contest tweet will count toward entry. Include @ArcadiaFood in your retweet so we can track your entry.  

Rules:
- One entry per person
- You must be over 18 to enter the contest
- Retweet must occur before 11:59 PM on 4/9/2014
- You may enter both the Facebook and the Twitter contests

Legal Stuff:

- You do not need to donate to the campaign to enter the drawing, but we'd like it if you did. 

- This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Twitter.

- By entering, you release Twitter of all liability for this contest.

Winner Announcement: Winners will be selected by random drawing and announced on Twitter by 5 PM on April 10, 2014.

Please contact Info@ArcadiaFood.org with any questions.

Help Arcadia Launch a Second Mobile Market!

Arcadia is participating in Spring2Action's Day of Giving on April 9, 2014, and we're trying to raise $30,000 to grow our Mobile Market program, and purchase, and outfit, a second Mobile Market vehicle. The new vehicle will support ongoing Market activities through transportation and distribution, and will help us to increase our number of Market stops. You can schedule your donation to support out campaign today HERE.       
  

Over the past two season's, Arcadia's Mobile Market has increased access to fresh, sustainable, healthy, local foods in the DC area's underserved neighborhoods. We've sold over $110,000 of food in those communities, with over $40,000 in sales to households receiving SNAP, WIC, Seniors FMNP, and other nutrition benefits. We are able to keep our food affordable by working directly with farmers and producers, and by accepting, and doubling nutrition benefits through our Bonus Bucks program. In 2014, we're expanding our number of weekly Market stops to 10. We would love to continue to grow this program to meet the need and demand, but we need a second vehicle, and we need your help to make that happen. All contributions made to our Spring2Action campaign are tax deductible, and will support the Mobile Market program. Schedule your donation today, or make sure to give on April 9th. And don't forget to ask your friends to do the same.      

Looking for another way to support the Mobile Market? Order a copy of the Arcadia Mobile Market Seasonal Cookbook, and receive an incredible cookbook with delicious seasonal recipes, while supporting the Mobile Market program and helping us provide free cookbooks to our low-income customers.

We'd like to thank Bon Appetit Management Company for their support of the Mobile Market Seasonal Cookbook, and Inova and Wholesome Wave for their ongoing support of the Bonus Bucks program.

The "Mobile Market Seasonal Cookbook" by JuJu Harris is Now Available!

Arcadia is proud to announce that the Mobile Market Seasonal Cookbook by JuJu Harris is now available for sale online, and will be available on the Mobile Market during the upcoming market season.

The Cookbook costs $20 (with a $5.60 priority shipping fee when ordered online).

Order your copy now by clicking HERE.