Editorial: Go Fresh Mobile Farmer's Market makes it easy to eat fresh vegetables

The concept of the book mobile and the ice cream truck take on new, colorful dimensions with the Go Fresh Mobile Farmer’s Market.

In its fourth year, with an expanded schedule and 12 stops on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays during the growing season, Springfield residents can find everything from poblano peppers to baby bok choy, from beans to broccoli.

New Lands Farm in West Springfield manages the farm and associates. And the farms that participate include New Lands, Enterprise in Whately and Springfield’s own Gardening the Community.

Seats have been ripped out of a full-size white school bus. Replacing them are bins of farm-fresh vegetables for the picking.

"SNAP recipients get twice as much for every dollar spent when they use their EBT card," states LiveWell Springfield's website. "At each stop we offer food storage tips, recipes, food demos throughout the season, opportunities to talk to a nutritionist, and bags to carry home purchased produce. We are also collecting recipes to post and share."

This may be one of the simplest ways to fight the food deserts that exist in many Springfield neighborhoods – at least during the growing season.

In winter, the farmer’s market continues at Tower Square downtown.

Weather permitting, it would be good for the health of Springfield residents if the mobile market could extend its season – at least until the snow flies.

Meantime, residents can find the schedule in Spanish, English, Vietnamese and Russian on the website.

And they can look for the white bus laden with fresh vegetables at a neighborhood spot each week.

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