Fresh Produce For A Share

A week's share of the produce.

Something of a new idea, CLAREMONT MARKET SHARES, aims to bring fresh produce to students, faculty and staff of Claremont College in California. Those who wish to participate pay $20 per week to receive a share of the crops brought to market by farmers participating in the program. Volunteers then pick up the items from a central distribution point and distribute them to those who are stakeholders. Members can then enjoy the fresh produce and await the next delivery in one week.

Set up in 2014, this method of food distribution allows for a greater understanding of where food items come from, increases communication among those involved in the process, and supports local farmers with a steady income from a known source.



Claremont Market Shares was started by Belmont Pinger, a supporter of sustainable food systems. From his experiences in farm-to-table restaurants, working on organic vegetable farms, and with educational gardens, he has developed a passion for increasing the interaction between people and the environment and with each other.

Mr. Pinger discussed his reasons for developing this unique concept, "The prevailing system of agriculture in the United States relies on methods that are harmful to the environment and creates a market that is unhealthy and unjust. Supermarkets have historically eliminated the markets that small family farms once relied on, and have made healthy chemical-free food an expensive luxury. In many cases low-income communities have been systematically denied access to affordable healthy food through a variety of socio-economic factors."

Currently, Claremont Market Shares is conducting a contest among its shareholders to create a new logo. Members have until Mar. 1 to submit designs. The plan is for the new logo to appear on all types of merchandise associated with the program, also giving the winner bragging rights as the designer, should that be a thing for the winner. In addition, the organization will award $50 and a variety of swag to the maker of the winning design. So, dust off your latest Photoshop program and get to work. You might be the winning entry.

Produce ready to be divided into shares.

Generally each market share includes six to eight food items, with the availability of bread from the Rustic Loaf for an additional $5. The most recent distribution included broccoli leaves, rainbow carrots, blood oranges, fingerling potatoes, lettuce bunch, beets, and garlic chives. You can definitely receive a healthy choice of food items from this program, making for a healthier college experience.

Information table at Scripps Sustainability Fair.

Thanks for information from this article on Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/belmont-pinger-claremont-market-shares/; this Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/claremontmarketshares/about/?ref=page_internal; this Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/claremontmarketshares/posts/1815692142029066; this Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/claremontmarketshares/posts/1817028838562063; and the above link.

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