Community Gardens launches "Veggie Mobile"

by Amy Klein

The Veggie Mobile, a new program designed to bring low-cost, fresh produce to inner-city residents in Albany, Schenectady and Troy, has been launched by Capital District Community Gardens. 

Every week, year-round, the Veggie Mobile sells a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables at wholesale prices to people with limited access to fresh produce in their neighborhoods. The vehicle has been specially outfitted with refrigeration and shelving to simulate a produce aisle. The produce sold comes from local growers, when available, and may be purchased by anyone in the community. Food stamps are accepted.

The vehicle is fueled with bio-diesel and its refrigeration units and sound system are powered by solar panels, making it truly a “green machine.” The solar panels allow staff to turn off the engine when the vehicle is stopped and residents are shopping for produce — keeping the vegetables refrigerated, while saving energy and reducing pollution. 

To conserve energy for cloudy days, batteries store solar power when the vehicle is not in operation. Neighborhoods targeted in this new program include Arbor Hill in Albany, Hamilton Hill in Schenectady and North Central Troy. These areas were selected based on their percentage of residents at or near the poverty level, their percentage of children eligible for free lunches, and their limited availability of full-service supermarkets with fresh produce.

Modeled after a mobile grocery market in Oakland (Calif.), the Veggie Mobile is funded through a 5-year grant from the New York State Health Department, with additional support from private donors. 

For further information about the Veggie Mobile, contact the Community Gardens at (518) 274-8685 or www.cdcg.org.

Back to index

CoopScoop Home
CoopScoop Archives
Behind the Scoop
Guidelines for Article
     Submission