Beacon - Residents in the City of Beacon will once again see the Common Greens Mobile Farmer’s Market around town. Last Friday, the group began its second season of delivering fresh fruits and vegetables.
The Common Greens Mobile Farmer’s Market is the only one of its kind in the Hudson Valley and the only one in the country run by teens. The market is operated by Beacon High School students participating in the Green Teen Community Gardening Program. Common Ground Farm, located three miles from Beacon at the Stony Kill Environmental Education Center, provides the chemical-free, freshly harvested produce and the market vehicle.
To celebrate the kick off to the second season, Common Greens invited the community to enjoy music, food tasting and games at the old Beacon High School last Friday. The old high school is also the location of the Green Teen’s garden.
Samantha Brittain, who graduated from Beacon High School last month and will attend Dutchess Community College in the fall, said she’s learned a lot working with the program.
"We’re providing local, fresh food. That’s something that many people might not be able to get anywhere else."
People like the senior residents of Forrestal Height will now have an opportunity to get fresh, local and affordable produce from the Common Greens Mobile Market each Friday afternoon thru October.
The Common Greens Mobile Market will make two stops each Friday. The first one is at Forrestal Heights from 1 - 1:45 P.M. The second stop is at the old Beacon High School (211 Fishkill Ave) from 2:30 - 3:30 P.M.
Mo Horton, who works in Beacon, stopped by on her lunch hour to buy some fresh produce. "I can come here on my lunch break, pick up what I need for the weekend and I’m set," Horton said. After learning of the market last year and attending regularly, she couldn’t wait for the new season to being. "The market is a great idea," Horton said. For her it’s a "no brainer" and says she’ll be back again soon.
To help make the market accessible to everyone, cash, EBT (food stamps) and farmers’ market nutrition coupons for WIC participants and seniors are accepted at the market.
