CUESA to Become New Operator of Mission Community Market
January 25, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Brie Mazurek, Communications Director, CUESA, 415.291-3276 x104, brie@cuesa.org
Jeremy Shaw, Board Chair, Mission Community Market, jeremy@missioncommunitymarket.org
CUESA to Become New Operator of Mission Community Market
Farmers Market and Food Education Leader to Support and Grow
Beloved Neighborhood Market, Starting on April 5, 2018
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (January 25, 2018) — CUESA (the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture), the nonprofit operator of the iconic Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in San Francisco and Jack London Square Farmers Market in Oakland, will be taking over operations of the Mission Community Market (MCM) on April 5, 2018.
“MCM is excited to announce the next big step in our commitment to the Mission community,” says Jeremy Shaw, the Board Chair of MCM. “With CUESA operating Thursday nights, MCM can serve the Mission District better than ever. That means making healthy foods more accessible through the Market Match program, supporting more local farmers and small businesses, and creating a celebrated community space for cultural arts and events.”
Founded in 2010, MCM transformed a block of Bartlett Street into a neighborhood gathering place, providing a platform for small local businesses, a public marketplace for families to access healthy food, and a cultural venue for artists, musicians, and community groups.
Over the years, MCM has depended on the support of volunteers to operate the farmers market. The transition to CUESA’s management will bring marketing power, operational expertise, educational programming, and customer service to help ensure the farmers market’s long-term viability and success.
“We’re grateful to support Mission Community Market in this next phase of growth,” says Marcy Coburn, Executive Director of CUESA. “CUESA and MCM are closely aligned in our commitment to creating beautiful and welcoming spaces to support Bay Area residents, while building community around healthy food.”
MCM is currently on winter hiatus and will reopen under CUESA’s management on April 5, 2018, following the same weekly schedule of Thursdays, 4-8pm. All of the market’s current sellers will be invited to continue their participation in the market. Over time, CUESA plans to add more farms, producers, and prepared food sellers to the mix of sellers.
“The Mission Community Market is a thriving neighborhood market built with the passion and culture of the residents and sellers,” says Coburn. “We are honored to listen to and serve the needs of the community.”
A number of MCM sellers already participate in CUESA’s other farmers markets, such as Marla Bakery, RoliRoti, Twin Girls Farm, City Bees, Root Down Farm, and Reem’s.
Farmer Apolinar “Poli” Yerena of Yerena Farms, an organic berry grower based in Watsonville, has been participating in MCM since its early days, as well as CUESA’s Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. “Mission Community Market is a special market for us, it’s a family-type market,” he says. “CUESA will be a good addition, bringing support like outreach to chefs, new shoppers, and community involvement.”
CUESA is committed to expanding public access to fresh fruits and vegetables, and all of CUESA’s farmers markets accept EBT (CalFresh/food stamps). EBT shoppers can double their fruits and vegetables dollars up to $10 per market day at CUESA markets through the Market Match program.
This year, CUESA celebrates 25 years of cultivating a sustainable food system, with ambitious goals to scale up their farmers markets and educational programs. CUESA has operated the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, which takes places on Saturdays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, since 1993, and took over operations of the Sunday Jack London Square Farmers Market in Oakland in 2016. MCM will be the fifth farmers market operated by CUESA.
La Placita and MCM Projects Will Continue
Current MCM staff and board members will continue to support the Mission Community in two key ways. First, they are leading the effort to create a Community Benefit District, which can provide neighborhood services like cultural arts and programming, small business promotion, public space maintenance, and neighborhood events other days of the week in La Placita (a public space on Bartlett Street between 21st & 22nd launched by MCM in 2017). Second, MCM will continue to support murals in the neighborhood. This February, on 21st and Mission Streets, look for a new mural sponsored and organized by MCM by local artist Alberto Ybarra.
For additional questions, see the Mission Community Market FAQ.
About CUESA
CUESA (Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture) is a mission-driven nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating a sustainable food system through the operation of farmers markets and educational programs. CUESA operates the world-renowned Ferry Plaza Farmers Market at the Ferry Building in San Francisco and the Jack London Square Farmers Market in Oakland. CUESA is a cutting-edge force in influencing how people grow, produce, and eat food in the Bay Area and beyond.
Connect with CUESA
Web: cuesa.org
Twitter: @cuesa
Facebook: facebook.com/cuesa
Instagram: instagram.com/cuesa
Connect with Mission Community Market
Web: missioncommunitymarket.org
Twitter: @missionmercado
Facebook: facebook.com/mission.community.market
Instagram: instagram.com/missionmercado
Photo courtesy of Mission Community Market.
Topics: Farmers market, Press release