Halifax’s Mobile Food Market strives to make groceries more affordable and accessible

Halifax’s Mobile Food Market is launching its first outdoor market of the year on Saturday, with the hope of bringing more accessible and affordable groceries and products to communities in the Halifax region.

The pop-up market is at Titus Smith Memorial Park in Fairview in the mornings and heads to the North Memorial Public Library in Halifax’s north end in the afternoons. The outdoor markets will take place every second Saturday at these locations throughout the summer.

In addition to the mobile market, the organization also supplies products in bulk to shelters, school feeding programs, senior centers, day care centers and other groups throughout the region.

Executive Director Mandy Chapman said the organization is targeting communities with lower social determinants of health. For example, those with higher poverty and unemployment rates.

“Access to healthy foods improves nutrition and overall well-being,” Chapman said. “It promotes social justice and justice.”

Chapman said a partnership with the Atlantic Superstore allows the market to offer fresh produce about 20 to 22 percent cheaper than the average supermarket.

Crystal John, one of the group’s volunteers, grew up in the north and calls it a “food desert.” She said many people in the community have to take two buses to get to the nearest supermarket. While this may not be a problem for some, it is not ideal for seniors or those with mobility issues and makes it challenging to get access to healthy foods.

In addition to being a volunteer at the market, John is also a loyal customer.

The market “means I can have fruits and vegetables every day without cutting anything else out,” says John. “It makes a big difference in my health, well-being and options.”

Support locally

Chapman estimates that about 30 percent of the market supply in Nova Scotia has been cultivated in recent years.

She said that while it can be difficult to get local produce during the winter months, she hopes to increase that to 80 percent between June and October this year.

“It engages and empowers communities when they have access to their own food that they grow or can buy locally,” Chapman said.

“It really makes us a more sustainable Nova Scotia to support our farmers, teach people where our food comes from, eat healthy, and it contributes to vibrant communities.”

‘No longer just a low income’

With the significant increase in food prices lately, Chapman and John have both seen an increase in demand in the market.

“It’s no longer just low-income people. It’s middle-income people because food prices are so high,” Chapman said.

Since there is a limited number of products, the market is almost always sold out. Chapman said people are starting to line up even before it opens with a “sense of panic” that affordable food might run out.

“People are really trying to survive and feed their families, and stretch their food dollars. We hope to do that. We don’t want people to feel that panic,” she said. “We want them to come to our markets and it’s a wonderful experience for them.”

More than a market

In addition to regular shopping, the mobile market strives to create a social experience. John said they always have arts and crafts for the kids while they wait while their parents shop.

To kick off the outdoor market season this Saturday, there will be face painting, music, seedling sales and food education.

Volunteers, employees and customers also try to support each other where possible.

“With the mobile market, I feel like we’ve created this family community where we care for each other and take care of each other,” she said.

“Someone says, ‘I need this this week,’ and I’ll say, ‘Oh, I can just pick that up for you,’ if they can’t make it to the market. So it’s really created this wonderful way of communicating.”