OVERTOWN FARMERS MARKET

Roots In The City has partenered with The Wholesome Wave Foundation, Michael's Genuine Food & Drink, and Human Services Coalition to bring the Nourishing Neighborhoods Double Value Coupon Program (DVCP) to Miami-Dade County. The partnership supports multiple farmers markets in the neighborhood of Overtown, one of Miami-Dade County's most underserved communities. The first, which is open seasonally on Wednesdays from 11:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., is located at the corner of NW Second Avenue and Tenth Street. A second Market operates at the corner of NW Third Avenue and Sixteenth Street, opposite the NET office. This Market is open on Fridays from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The DVCP pilot doubles the value of benefits provided by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) via Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Food Stamps.

The produce comes from Roots In The City's urban farms which are located on several lots throughout the Overtown community. The markets feature organically grown fruits and vegetables, including collard greens, tomatoes, beans, bell peppers, eggplant, peanuts, corn, lettuce, squash, sweet potatoes, watermelon, and various herbs. The property is maintained in part through the assistance of the Collins Center for Public Policy. The Center allows almost two city blocks of its property in Overtown to be used for the garden, and pays much of the water bill associated with maintaining the garden. The Roots garden is part of the Center's partnership for community involvement in Miami's urban neighborhoods.

Michel Nischan, founder of Wholesome Wave, and Michael Schwartz, chef/owner of Michael's Genuine, are leading a coalition of local farmers, chefs, and businesses to offer two-for-the-price-of-one on fresh, local fruits and vegetables. Food stamp users are encouraged to forgo less nutritious, cheap calorie foods in favor of those that are more healthful, and now affordable. Wholesome Wave is providing overall leadership, seed funding from donors, technical support, and direct outreach to state and federal agencies. Roots In The City is thrilled to have Wholesome Wave take an interest in the gardens and to help to nourish the surrounding Overtown neighborhood.

Food Stamp use nationwide is at an all-time high, helping to feed one in eight Americans and one in four children, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Census Bureau. In Miami-Dade County, seventeen percent of low-income individuals and families currently participate in the program, or equal to 436,408 customers, up forty-five percent since 2007. Michel Nischan has been quoted as saying, "because of the social entrepreneurial vision of Michael's Genuine, HSC, and Roots In the City, we have an impactful, passionate team bringing an affordable, sustainable way of feeding families in Miami." Roots In the City continues to expand its urban farming and education programs in the hopes of positively impacting each member of the Ovtertown community.

Click on any of the below images to see more from the Market.