Earlier this month, the Horizon Foundation and members of the Healthier Choices Coalition joined County Executive Ball, the Roving Radish and other community partners to celebrate the launch of the Roving Radish’s new mobile marketplace. Each week, the mobile market van will visit 12 sites across Howard County so residents can access fresh, healthy, local produce at affordable prices. Community members who participate in federal food assistance programs can receive 50% off all food items.
Building upon the Roving Radish’s long-time success in Howard County as a farm-to-table meal kit service, this mobile market was a long time coming.
“Members of the Healthier Choices Coalition have advocated for the launch of a mobile market for the past two years to make fresh produce and healthy food options more accessible and affordable,” said Alice Harris, lead organizer for the Healthier Choices Coalition, in a statement. “No matter who you are or where you live, children, families and members of our senior community will benefit from the Mobile Market Initiative throughout Howard County. The mobile market will serve as a key game-changer in advancing the Coalition’s efforts to implement actions that lead to healthier outcomes for our children, families and communities.”
The initial 12 sites were chosen based on local data showing the prevalence of Howard County residents utilizing federal food assistance programs. The Horizon Foundation and the Healthier Choices Coalition strongly believe that everyone in Howard County should be able to access healthy food – but that hasn’t been the reality for everyone. By coming directly to those communities and offering products at discounted prices, the mobile market aims to healthy produce more accessible and affordable to residents who need it most. You can view the schedule here.
“The Horizon Foundation has worked for over a decade to make healthy food and drinks more available in our community and to make the healthy choice the easy choice,” said Lisa Pearson, board chair for the Horizon Foundation, in a statement. “We must continue to break down systemic barriers that have prevented some of our residents from achieving good health. By working together to make fresh, healthy food more accessible and affordable to everyone in our community, we are one step closer to ensuring that all people in Howard County can live abundant and healthy lives.”
Thank you to everyone who helped bring this mobile market to life! We look forward to seeing it in action this summer.
