The North Oakland Farmers’ Market opened June 23rd at the Children’s Hospital Oakland and received a warm welcome from hospital staff, patients, and North Oakland residents.
The market runs year round every Tuesday from 2-7pm at the Children’s Hospital
Oakland (747 52nd St @ M.L.K. Jr. Blvd.) in conjunction with the hospital’s
childhood obesity clinic. The market is a partnership between the
Children’s Hospital Oakland and Phat Beets Produce, a volunteer collective
in North Oakland.
According to a recent study done of California health demographics,
¨Fifty-seven percent of adults are overweight or obese and rates of
overweight and obesity in African American (66%) and Hispanic adults (71%)
are even higher. Additionally, more than one out of every three 9 to
11-year-olds in California is at risk for becoming overweight or is
already overweight. Fortunately, recent studies show that certain chronic
diseases, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease and some types of
cancers can be reduced through a healthy diet and physical activity.¨
Urban communities face even greater challenges do to the phenomenon of the
urban food desert, with liquor and convenience stores as the only options
for many communities.
The North Oakland Farmers’ Market (NOFM) aims to connect small farmers
with urban communities in order to combat the growing food deserts in
urban centers. The NOFM is currently in the process of applying to accept
WIC (Women Infants and Children) checks as well as EBT (food stamps) in
order to make the market more accessible to the greater community.
Vouchers will also be available to families attending the obesity clinic
starting in July.
The market currently hosts two farmers and hopes to expand to include a
local bakery, and other affordable artisan products:
J &P Organics is a small 5-acre farm in Salinas, Ca. The Perez family
(J&P Organics) farms at the Rural Development Center at The Agriculture
and Land Based Training Association (www.albafarmers.org) in Salinas, Ca.
The Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA) provides
educational and business opportunities for farm workers and aspiring
farmers to grow and sell crops grown on two organic farms in Monterey
County, California. J&P Organics grows organic berries, flowers, and about
twenty to thirty mixed fruits and vegetables.
J and J Farms (Jorge Ramos) is a pesticide free tree fruit grower from
Hughson, Ca. They grow everything from grapes to apricots, peaches, and
apples. They also sell dried fruits and nuts from their orchard.
Phat Beets Produce aims to provide equal, affordable access to organic
fresh fruits and vegetables to North Oakland families through wholesale
pricing and affordable farm stands. Supported by community events, Phat
Beets facilitates youth in leadership roles engaging their peers in
healthy eating and nutrition discussions through fruit and vegetable
sampling. Phat Beets works to connect small farmers to urban communities
via the creation of farm stands and farmers markets in local
establishments.
