Teamwork makes produce accessible

Thrive! Southern Lorain County and City Fresh provide fresh produce through Oct. 26

The Wellington Farmers Market has closed, but Thrive! Southern Lorain County and City Fresh have teamed up to provide fresh produce to southern Lorain County residents.

“We wanted to make sure the people of the area still had a place to get fresh produce despite the closure of the market,” said Carol Burke, interim facilitator for Thrive! and former manager of the Wellington Farmers Market. “The solution was found when we got a hold of City Fresh, and together we will be able get produce from June 15 through Oct. 26 for the citizens in Southern Lorain County.”

Burke said Thrive’s mission is focused on nutrition and how to make it more accessible.

“Produce vendors have been leaving the state,” she said. “We needed to change the system of how things are being delivered.

“We use to have farmers from the area bring their crops to the market, but that would cause them to spoil if they weren’t taken.”

Anna Kiss MauserMartinez, director of City Fresh, said the organization started in 2005 to fix problems just like the ones at the Wellington Farmers Market.

“We offer a subscriptionbased service for produce,” Mauser-Martinez said. “Subscription services are everywhere nowadays, and we feel that is the best way to provide the produce.

“We have people buy what we call ‘shares’ and then they arrive and pick up the produce when delivered.”

Mauser-Martinez said people choose the size of produce shares and go to the designated delivery points.

“We offer different quantities so you aren’t paying for more than you need,” she said. “We take the crops from local growers and then deliver them to you in the quantity of your share.

“The shares will come in based on the current season we are in and what the farmers can grow.”

Mauser-Marinez said the shares can be picked up at the gazebo in front of Wellington Town Hall, 115 Willard Memorial Square.

“You order online at cityfresh.org and your share, which can be changed weekto-week, will be delivered to that location thanks to the partnership we have with Thrive!,” she said. “This way, local growers will be supported and citizens will still have healthy food to enjoy.”