Food access, especially for lower-income neighborhoods, is a hot topic these days. Those of us who work in the field of markets and food issues know that there are many communities suffering from a lack of fresh, healthy food – especially fruits and vegetables. In return, these communities are experiencing rising rates of [...]]]>

Food access, especially for lower-income neighborhoods, is a hot topic these days. Those of us who work in the field of markets and food issues know that there are many communities suffering from a lack of fresh, healthy food – especially fruits and vegetables. In return, these communities are experiencing rising rates of heart disease, diabetes and obesity. To counter this problem, farmers markets and CSA’s have been started in many of these food-insecure neighborhoods, and while some have failed, many are thriving and developing into powerful community and economic development engines in their communities.

Three incredible people leading three of these successful organizations: Karen Washington of La Familia Verde, Bronx, NY; Daniel Ross of Nuestras Raíces, Holyoke, MA; and Jason Harvey of Oakland Food Connection, Oakland, CA spoke at the 7^th International Public Markets Conference and taught us that the old real estate mantra of “location, location, location” has been replaced by “community, community, community.” Karen, Daniel and Jason all credit their organizations’ longevity and success to their roots in the community. All three of their projects were started by people living in the neighborhood who knew that change needed to come, knew what to do to bring about that change, and most importantly, knew that only they themselves could bring about that change.

What makes these three organizations so fascinating is that they all have undergone a sort of evolution. What was once a simple community garden has now grown into a farmers market and a youth education program has spawned a youth-operated local foods café. Not content to simply come up with one solution, these three projects have set their sights higher and their work develops as their communities’ needs grow and change. Ultimately, it is their ability to be flexible and listen and react to the community’s desires that has kept their programs viable and sustainable. We can only hope that more cities around the U.S. and the world can grow and sustain their own versions of a La Familia Verde or Nuestras Raíces or Oakland Food Connection.

Normally a shopping review wouldn’t make it onto the Making Places Blog, but today’s NY Times review of the Brooklyn Flea merits a post. Naturally, the review focuses on this relatively new flea market’s vintage jewelry and ubiquitous graphic tees, but the real heart of the [...]]]>

Normally a shopping review wouldn’t make it onto the Making Places Blog, but today’s NY Times review of the Brooklyn Flea merits a post. Naturally, the review focuses on this relatively new flea market’s vintage jewelry and ubiquitous graphic tees, but the real heart of the article is not products and prices, but the social connections that are made in the market. Of course, quality is still important to the Flea’s customers and the price that the vendors get is vital to their economic well-being, but just as important to the market’s success is the DJ spinning tunes in the corner and the conversations happening between customer and customer, vendor and vendor, and customer and vendor. The Flea, and markets like it around the world, is not just a place of business but in the words of Time’s reporter Mike Albo, “more weekend hang out than retail zone”.  At a time when we are shying away from bling, markets such as the Brooklyn Flea are creating communities out of commerce.

More info:

• Come Shop in Their Backyard [NY Times]
• The Brooklyn Flea