The Mobile Farmers Market staff poses for a photo while holding some of their locally grown produce at the Margaret McDowell Manor on July 31.

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - To reduce barriers to food insecurity in West Sacramento, the Mobile Farmers Market from the Center for Land Based Learning (CLBL) hosts multiple stops in the area, providing locally grown produce to residents in areas with little access to fresh food, commonly referred to as “food deserts.”

The Mobile Farmers Market targets low-income and low-access areas for fresh and healthy foods, setting up shop outside of communities, parks and senior centers. 

Susie Sutphin, the community food program manager at the Center for Land Based Learning, said the mobile market is in its fifth season and has had the opportunity to help residents and farmers by providing a marketplace for them to move their produce. The mobile marketplace runs from May 13 to Nov. 20.

“We do operate two mobile market trucks throughout Yolo County, so we have 11 stops Tuesday through Thursday in West Sacramento, Woodland, Esparto and Knights Landing,” Sutphin said. 

Mobile Farmers Market food ambassador Joanna Scales helps a customer shopping at the Thursday afternoon stop at the Margaret McDowell Manor on July 31.

Alyssa Himenes, a farming and marketing assistant intern, said she is going into her junior year at Washington Middle College High School and completed an eight-week summer internship helping to sell, weigh, bag and assist customers at the marketplaces.

The Center for Land Based Learning has a farm in West Sacramento where 30 to 40% of the produce is grown for the mobile market. Its farmstand is open from 9 a.m. to noon Fridays at 985 Riverfront St. in the Bridge District. 

“The rest of the produce comes from the other local farms here in West Sacramento and some from Woodland too,” Himenes said. “Woodland has our headquarters for CLBL, so we get from other farms from there as well.”

Himenes said she also helps with farm maintenance, seeding, harvesting, weeding and trellising, a gardening technique using supportive structures. While her eight-week internship is ending and school starts in mid-August, Himenes said she plans to stay connected with the Center for Land Based Learning because she has “grown an intense passion” for planting, agriculture and environmental science.

“I want to go to UC Davis,” Himenes said. “UC Davis is my dream. In fact, we have a lot of UC Davis interns that work at our farm.” 

The Center for Land Based Learning is a nonprofit organizaition, operating for more than 30 years. The mobile market is a certified vendor with a state-funded program called Market Match and also receives funding from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Sardar Safi, the Health Education Council community health leader, helps a resident at the resource table during the Mobile Farmers Market’s afternoon stop at the Margaret McDowell Manor on July 31.

The Center for Land Based Learning is a partner with CommuniCare+OLE, a health care group committed to providing quality health care services, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. Sutphin said that CommuniCare+OLE provides a produce prescription program with $1 “food is medicine” vouchers. 

The Mobile Farmers Market accepts cards, cash and EBT. Sutphin said the selection is seasonal, local, sustainably grown and affordably priced. EBT customers automatically receive 50% off their purchase, regardless of if there are enough funds on the card, meaning the cash price is still 50% off for EBT customers, she said. 

Assisting community members with access to resources, translations and other needs at the marketplace was Sardar Safi, the Health Education Council community health leader, and other council members. The Health Education Council is a regular partner with the mobile market, hosting information tables at their stops.

Safi said that he and the Health Education Council staff can see about 50 people on a given day, providing them with fliers, pamphlets and other information about events, programs and campaigns that can assist them. The events can range from youth soccer to food distribution, medical resources to arts and crafts.

Here is a close-up of colorful bell peppers available at the Mobile Farmers Market at the Margaret McDowell Manor on July 31. 

The Health Education Council also conducts safety surveys within the communities it stops at and relays the findings back to the residents, according to Safi.

The Mobile Farmers Market is scheduled to be in West Sacramento at the Valhalla Mobile Home Community, located at 3901 Lake Road on Tuesdays from 9:30 to 11 a.m. and the Margaret McDowell Manor at 1525 Merkley Ave. from noon to 2 p.m.  On Thursdays, the marketplace is scheduled to be at Bryte Park on the corner of Holland and Carrie Street from 9:30 to 11 a.m. and the West Capitol Courtyard Apartments, located at 2455 West Capitol Ave. from noon to 2 p.m.

In Woodland, the market will be at the Courtside Towers Apartments, located at 320 West Court St. from 9:30 to 11 a.m. and the Yolo Adult Day Health Center, located at 20 N. Cottonwood St., from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays. 

The market will be at the Leisureville Mobile Home Park, located at 1313 E Gibson Road in Woodland from 9 to11 a.m. and at Knights Landing, on the corner of 4th and Locust Street in Knights Landing from 12:30 to 2 p.m. on Thursdays.

On Fridays, the farmstands will be open at the Esparto Community Park at 17001 Yolo Ave. in Esparto from 9 to 11 a.m. and at the Boys & Girls Club, located at 433 W Cross Street in Woodland from 12:30 to 2 p.m.