Foodbank launches new mobile market to help feed families in the Latrobe Valley

2 September 2019

Foodbank Victoria will be running 72 Farms to Families markets in the Latrobe Valley over the next four years to provide much-needed food relief to struggling families in the Gippsland region.

Thanks to generous funding from The William Buckland Foundation, the pop-up farmers’ markets will be held monthly and offer clients of local charities access to a range of free, nutritious and fresh produce.

The funding has allowed Foodbank to develop a purpose-built “mobile market truck” to transport fresh produce to the Gippsland region more regularly. The bespoke design enables families to select their own produce directly from the truck, empowering community members and creating a genuine farmers’ market feel.

“After the popularity of last year’s Farms to Families markets in Morwell, we’ve been working to find ways to bring more fresh produce into Gippsland. Thanks to this innovative mobile market truck, we can host more markets to help ease the burden on families who are struggling to make ends meet,” said Dave McNamara, Foodbank Victoria CEO.

“These mobile markets form part of our ongoing strategy to address food insecurity in regional Victoria. Thanks to the recent state government funding, we are currently working to build Foodbank Hubs in Morwell and Ballarat to ensure Victorians experiencing hardship will have continued and improved access to fresh, frozen and staple food items,” Mr McNamara continued.

Working with several Foodbank charity partners in Morwell including, Enjoy Church, Theodora’s Cheerful Givers, Morwell Neighbourhood House, the Salvation Army and The Gathering Place, each mobile market can assist up to 300 families.

Foodbank’s Farms to Families market initiative aims to work with local charity partners and food donors to offer fresh produce to vulnerable Victorians.

The program will celebrate its fourth birthday this September, with a total of 66 markets held in some of the state’s most disadvantaged suburbs and towns. To date, this program has provided more than 251,000 kg of fresh produce to over 13,000 families across Victoria.

Thanks to generous funding from The William Buckland Foundation, the pop-up farmers’ markets will be held monthly and offer clients of local charities access to a range of free, nutritious and fresh produce.

The funding has allowed Foodbank to develop a purpose-built “mobile market truck” to transport fresh produce to the Gippsland region more regularly. The bespoke design enables families to select their own produce directly from the truck, empowering community members and creating a genuine farmers’ market feel.

“After the popularity of last year’s Farms to Families markets in Morwell, we’ve been working to find ways to bring more fresh produce into Gippsland. Thanks to this innovative mobile market truck, we can host more markets to help ease the burden on families who are struggling to make ends meet,” said Dave McNamara, Foodbank Victoria CEO.

“These mobile markets form part of our ongoing strategy to address food insecurity in regional Victoria. Thanks to the recent state government funding, we are currently working to build Foodbank Hubs in Morwell and Ballarat to ensure Victorians experiencing hardship will have continued and improved access to fresh, frozen and staple food items,” Mr McNamara continued.

Working with several Foodbank charity partners in Morwell including, Enjoy Church, Theodora’s Cheerful Givers, Morwell Neighbourhood House, the Salvation Army and The Gathering Place, each mobile market can assist up to 300 families.

Foodbank’s Farms to Families market initiative aims to work with local charity partners and food donors to offer fresh produce to vulnerable Victorians.

The program will celebrate its fourth birthday this September, with a total of 66 markets held in some of the state’s most disadvantaged suburbs and towns. To date, this program has provided more than 251,000 kg of fresh produce to over 13,000 families across Victoria.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Alexa Viani, Foodbank Victoria: 03 9362 8333  / 0466 459 266