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Market on the Move makes successful stop in Flagstaff

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AmigosNAZ staff report

FLAGSTAFF — Market on the Move, a farmer’s market-style program where community members can get up to 60 pounds of fresh produce for a $15 donation, made a successful return to Flagstaff on May 7.

The market was suppose to open at 2:30 p.m. at Killip Elementary School. However, a long line of people were already waiting before 2 p.m. so the market was opened early, said Chris Nez, health promotion program lead for Native Americans for Community Action (NACA).

NACA and North Country HealthCare’s Hermosa Vida “Beautiful Life” program in Sunnyside are partnering locally to bring the program to Flagstaff.

One semi truck arrived in Flagstaff with 36,000 pounds of produce. Any produce left over was returned to the valley and other locations for distribution, Nez said. This is the second time Market on the Move has appeared in Flagstaff.

The program was started in 2010 as part of the Phoenix-based 3000 Club, a nonprofit organization. Most of the food, about 70 percent, comes from Nogales, Mexico and usually goes to produce brokers who distribute it to local supermarkets. Produce that is rejected because it is not the right shape or is out of demand is usually sent to the landfill. Instead, the rescued produce is loaded on semi trucks and has been distributed to residents in the greater Tucson and Phoenix areas at local churches and other business and community locations.

Organizers report the program rescues more than 30 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables from going to waste each year, helps distribute produce to more than 460,000 families in need, feeds nutritional fruits and vegetables to about 920,000 children and helps prevent diabetes.

Representatives from the 3000 Club said they were impressed with the turnout — with many people braving the cold, windy and sometimes damp weather — and said this trial run could become more regular food distribution program starting this fall.