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Community Food Security > Del Paso Heights Community Farmers' Market

The Market Model
The Del Paso Heights Community Farmers' Market began business on July 9, 2005. The innovative market draws on the expertise of local residents in food production. The market is a partnership between the Health Education Council, Soil Born Farm Urban Agriculture Project, the City of Sacramento Department of Parks and Recreation, Mutual Assistance Network of Del Paso Heights and community residents.

Built on the principals of Community Food Security, the Del Paso Heights Community Farmers' Market brings food production and distribution to the local community. Local growers produce culturally appropriate and affordable vegetables and fruits in and immediately around the Del Paso Heights/Strawberry Manor neighborhoods. Items such as lettuce, squash, bok choy, tomatoes, strawberries, garlic, cucumbers, herbs, and many more are growing in empty lots and on residential properties.

Market Goals

• to provide an economic opportunity for the growers and
• to provide access to healthy foods for the community,
• improving the health of individuals and community

Market Vendors
5 local residents of the Del Paso Heights neighborhood have applied an been chosen to supply the market with locally grown produce. Growers for the market agree to grow produce for the market, are committed to the market every Saturday and attend grower meetings and trainings regularly to learn about growing, sales and customer education techniques.

Grant High School's Environmental Organization, GEO, a garden based education program sells plants, salsa, pasta sauce and flowers, all under their own label, Eat From the Garden. The Sacramento Natural Foods Coop sells dried grains and beans at the market and there are cooking demonstrations at every market, helping to familiarize customers with some of the fresh vegetables available at the market.

Methods of Payment
The market is the only certified farmers' market in Sacramento County to provide customers the opportunity to use their Electronic Benefits Transfer cards to use food stamps or cash benefits to purchase fresh produce at the market. The market accepts WIC and Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program Coupons.

The market is located in the parking lot at the Robertson Community Center, 3525 Norwood Avenue, and is open on Saturdays from 8 am until 12 noon spring through fall. For more information please contact nutrition@healthedcouncil.org

The market is supported with funds from the California Nutrition Network, the United Way and in-kind donations from partner organizations.