IMAN Launches Fresh Market Stand
IMAN launched the new Fresh Market Stand initiative in early-March, adding another layer to our longstanding Food Ecosystems work in the Englewood and Chicago Lawn neighborhoods. Every Friday at 2 pm, visitors to IMAN’s Youth & Arts Wellness Center may purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, engage with health and wellness specialists, and receive helpful nutrition information. During the off-season of our weekly farmers market, the Fresh Market Stand will help meet the community need and demand for affordable fresh produce. In the first month alone, 420 lbs of produce were purchased at the Fresh Market Stand.
The Fresh Market Stand plays a key role in IMAN’s larger vision of cultivating community wellness through increased access to nutritious food options. Reinforcing the cooperative, sustainable spirit of our Food Ecosystems efforts, the Fresh Market Stand is also an opportunity for Corner Store Campaign partners to buy produce in bulk. Using a cooperative buying model, five partner stores have purchased a total of 280 lbs of produce since March 2019. In addition to reducing waste, this unique business arrangement makes fresh fruits and vegetables even more accessible to local individuals and families.
Our Fresh Market Stand will be open every Friday afternoon through the month of June. Another pillar of IMAN’s Food Ecosystems work–our weekly Farmers Market–will return on Friday, July 12th. For additional information about IMAN’s food justice organizing, and to get involved with any of these exciting campaigns, please contact Food Ecosystems Coordinator Eric Rodriguez at eric@imancentral.org.