Mobile Farmers Market: VFF Produce

VFF (Veterans, Faith, Farmers) Produce will be providing local fresh fruits and vegetables in the Washington County Area!

Visit the VFF Produce Facebook page for weekly updates and announcements.

 Our Mission

To provide access to fresh, local produce at a low price in the food desert areas and communities of Washington County, starting within the city of Hagerstown.

We do this by operating regularly scheduled mobile farmer markets at various locations throughout the county.  Food Desert areas are typically low-income areas where there is very little fresh produce available for sale.  We offer high quality, locally grown fruits and vegetables at affordable prices.

In addition, VFF Produce, through our partnerships with the Washington County Health Department (WCHD), Meritus Health and the University of Maryland Extension, provides educational resources and recipes on how to prepare the market’s produce in nutritious, cost-effective, delicious and easy ways.  WCHD Market Money vouchers will be available through October 2020 to help defray the cost and make healthier foods accessible to consumers.

July 2020 Schedule: Updated 8/5/2020

Download schedule Here

Expected July 2020 Produce

• Blueberries
• Cantaloupes
• Peaches
• Plums
• Bell Peppers
• Corn
• Cucumbers
• Garlic
• Green Beans
• Green Cabbage
• Variety of Lettuce
• Variety of Tomatoes
• Yellow Squash
• Zucchini

Local Produce

All our produce is locally grown by farmers and gardeners in and around the Washington County area.  The WCHD Grant does not cover the cost of the produce, so we buy from farmers at a reduced price.  We also accept donations from farmers and home gardeners who have excess produce.  This enables us to sell to the community at an affordable price and allows us to purchase more varieties.  At each mobile market location, we display a flyer acknowledging all the specific farmers and growers that provided that day’s produce.

Our Story

VFF (Veterans, Faith, Farmers) Produce LLC was established in 2019 when Ed and Janet Kilpatrick were awarded the Mobile Farmers Market Vendor grant by the Washington County Health Department and funded by the Community Resource Health Commission.  Through this grant, we were able to start our business venture that allows us to transport produce from local growers to various locations throughout Washington County, Maryland.

We began this journey following our Faith and a strong belief that we were meant to establish a business that would assist those in need and as a way of continuing to serve our community. Our vision for this business is to promote the local Farmers and help get their produce from the farm to the community, in order to give access to healthier foods in the most needed areas.  Our intent is to support the Veterans community by hiring local veterans looking for part-time employment to assist us in running the Mobile Farmers Market sites.

Our ultimate goal is to become a non-profit organization working with both the Veteran organizations and local Farmers to serve our community.  We hope to continue the business after the WCHD grant ends by applying for other grants, and through donations, and corporate sponsors.

Funding

In July 2019, the Mobile Farmers Market was awarded funds from the Washington County Health Department as part of a grant from the Community Health Resource Commission.  The grant runs from August 2019 through October 2020 and the money is used to reimburse the Vendor, VFF Produce, for all the costs, fees, and purchase of equipment and supplies necessary for running a mobile farmer’s market.  The majority of the grant money goes toward reimbursement of time for running and operating the markets, including paying additional staff as the business grows.  This allows us to focus on providing affordable fresh fruits and vegetables without having to rely on profits from sales.  The Mobile Farmers Market will stay sustainable through the financial support of the Community and the selling of our produce.

Community Relations

VFF Produce makes it possible for small farms to sell in communities that lack access to their products.  Unsold perishable produce is then donated to local soup kitchens, food pantries, and organizations that also serve the community.

Nutrition Education

Nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, BMI calculations, and healthy recipes will be provided by the Washington County Health Department, Meritus Health and University of Maryland Extension.

By participating in education activities customers have the opportunity to earn $1 Mobile Farmers Market Money coupons for the mobile farmers market.

The Mobile Farmers Market is supported by a grant from the Maryland Community Health Resource Commission.  The Washington County Health Department administers the grant.  VFF Produce is operated by Ed and Janet Kilpatrick.

Supported by the Maryland Community Health Resource Commission. The views presented here are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Commission, its Commissioners, or its staff.