Interns for Impact: JAZMIN LOCKE

JAZMIN LOCKE
Photo by: Viviana Mauri, Communications Intern.

Hi there! My name is Jazmin Locke and I am the first intern to be featured on Catalyst Miami's blog, this is exciting! I must then be responsible for paving the explanation of what an intern at Catalyst Miami may be doing. Primarily I'd say it is being patient and receptive of the different assignments thrown at me and holding my breath to not exclaim, "Wait are you sure you want me to do this?" In just these two weeks I have noticed that Catalyst Miami places great confidence and enthusiasm in their interns, both believing in our creativity and our initiatives.

As a student in Environmental Sustainability at Mount Holyoke College, I am excited to get the opportunity to work with Lynn Fiala in improving Farmers Markets' efforts to reach people across Miami. While reading Request for Proposals, paying close attention to local politics and countless e-mails, I am gradually learning the steps it takes to bring Farmers' Markets from across Miami together to collaborate with one another, share resources, and increase the availability of locally grown food. Locally grown food is not easy to find across the county, particularly in designated food deserts where supermarkets cannot be found within a 10 mile radius. This collaborative is to work toward closing these gaps.

Here with three other Posse Scholars of Miami, I have the support of my peers in a new professional setting, where I can learn what it means to be myself in a progressive environment. This opportunity is providing me the experience that I will use in the environmental field in the future.

New vendors & old favorites at farmers market

Yesterday was the second run of the Roots in the City Farmers Market in Overtown. We have a new vendor, Hani Khouri, (pictured below with his wife) who sells eggs, cheese, falafels and some amazing cake whose name I didn't catch. Customers can buy the eggs and cheese with food stamps (SNAP) and get double their money when they do so! Unfortunately, you cannot use SNAP to purchase pastries or falafels.
I got to try some delectable hydroponic tomatoes (below) from Teena's Pride. They are practically candy, and Teena can testify that I ate a whole box right there at the market.
So, all and all, it was a great day for me and my taste buds. However, I was disappointed that we had less SNAP customers than last week. It's not for a lack of news coverage.... If you use SNAP benefits, this is a great opportunity to get fresh produce. (Even if you pay with cash, this is a great opportunity to get fresh produce.) When you spend, say, $10 in SNAP at the market, we will give you $10 worth of tokens to use like cash through our vendors. See our lovely new tokens? Help us spread the word about this market! We are open Wednesdays from 1 to 5 p.m. at the corner of NW 2 Ave. and 10 St. for the next couple weeks (we reopen in the fall.)

How often do you see this in Overtown?

Today we launched the Roots in the City Farmers Market, which sells fresh, local, organic produce. We are open Wednesdays (while the growing season lasts) from 1 to 4 p.m. at the corner of NW 2 Ave. and 10 St. We accept cash and SNAP (food stamps). But wait, there's more! If you make a purchase with SNAP, we will double your money! This project is made possible by Wholesome Wave, the Knight Foundation, Michael's Genuine, Roots in the City and Jo Anne and Michael Bander. This is an initiative of the Prosperity Campaign, HSC's outreach arm.

Learn how to start a farmers market

Sharon Yeago, President of the Farmers Market Coalition, will be in Miami to attend the dedication of the new Roots in the City Farmers Market in a couple weeks and will be available to meet with interested parties on Thursday, April 8 at 3 p.m. at the Human Services Coalition, 1900 Biscayne Blvd., Ste. 200. Sharon, who is an experienced market manager herself, can help you develop a plan to start and operate a successful farmers market.

For more information, please call Sharon at 386-454-3950.

Oh SNAP! It's now easier to use food stamps at farmers markets

The Food and Nutrition Service just announced a more streamlined process for approving farmers markets to redeem food stamps (SNAP). Markets no longer need to go through state agencies to operate incentive projects, such as the one HSC, Roots in the City and Michael's Genuine are starting with support from Wholesome Wave. Our market is tentatively slated to begin March 24, and will operate on Wednesdays from 1 to 4 pm. SNAP benefits recipients will be able to double their purchases of fruits and vegetables, up to $10 per market day. This is a model that is being used throughout the country and is making fresh, local produce more accessible to low-income families.

Double Value program to be launched in Overtown

In an exciting development (and I'm for real excited!) our new farmers market program, which was I discussed yesterday, has found its home: Roots in the City vegetable garden. This community garden in Overtown was started by Marvin Dunn, Ph.D., in 1994 and is just one of a network of community gardens and tree nursuries in the neighborhood. They hire local workers and accept volunteers from all over the city (such as fellow Public Ally Jane from the above photgraph) and in turn sell fresh produce to the surrounding community. It's a win-win!

The new start date is February 18th and the time is TBD, but we'll keep you posted.