Mobile produce pantry gears up for another season

Food Programs Manager Rachel Bishop preps the mobile food pantry for shoppers.

In July, Upper Valley MEND’s mobile produce pantry will begin its season. The mobile pantry takes fruits and vegetables obtained from MEND’s gleaning and direct farm purchasing programs to local migrant camps and other locations.

Each summer, MEND coordinates with Columbia Valley Community Health’s mobile medical clinic, accompanying the van on some of its planned visits. Many of these take place at migrant camps, where agricultural workers and their families live during North Central Washington’s harvesting season. Others take place at rescue missions or social service organizations in the Wenatchee Valley area.

The mobile produce pantry gives people access to fresh produce who might not be able to make it to the Community Cupboard food pantry in Leavenworth. It also provides an additional outlet to give away excess produce that there may not be room for at the Cupboard.

"The Mobile Produce Pantry is one of my favorite programs," says Food Programs Manager Rachel Bishop. "We set up our area like a farmer's market booth with baskets, tablecloths and signage for all the fruits and veggies in English and Spanish. Seeing the smiles when folks hear the produce is all free and they can take as much as they want brings me so much joy."