Neighborhood Health Center is happy to be hosting the Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP) at our Mattina and Northwest locations every Wednesday from 11am - 12:30pm, through the end of October. MAP’s Mobile Market provides fresh, affordable and seasonal, ready-to-eat produce like lettuce, squash, peppers, cabbage, cherries and more to the community year-round. Everyone is welcome to purchase a box of produce from the Mobile Market at both locations. 

The Massachusetts Avenue Project is a nonprofit urban farm located in Buffalo, NY. All of their produce is grown on revitalized vacant lots near MAP's Farmhouse on Massachusetts Avenue. They utilize garden beds and two hoop houses, and also raise urban chickens. Their farm is run by their farm staff, with the help of employed MAP youth. MAP’s mission is to “nurture the growth of a diverse, accessible, and equitable local food system, promote economic opportunities, and empower youth through social change education”. All produce at the Mobile Market is grown at MAP's farms or sourced locally from partner farms across Western New York and Ontario, Canada. The main goal of the Mobile Market is to address the impact of Food Apartheid in the Buffalo community.

Food Apartheid is defined as the intentional inequality in our food system. It is the reason for lower access to fresh, nutritious food, based on race, income and geography. “The Mobile Market program does not intend to be a one-stop solution, but rather shed light on a decades-long problem of racism in our social systems and provide one point of access to neighborhoods experiencing the effects of Food Apartheid,” says Tabitha Wechter, MAP’s Mobile Market Outreach Coordinator.

“A diet rich in vegetables and fruits can help improve a number of health outcomes. Our partnership with MAP serves to help our patients, staff and community have more ready access to these healthy foods,” says Zak Collins, RD, a registered dietitian at Neighborhood Health Center. In addition to providing primary healthcare services, Neighborhood also offers one-on-one (or family) nutrition appointments with registered dietitians and nutritionists. Neighborhood believes in the importance of caring for the whole person. Our providers coordinate across departments to bring a well-rounded and well-informed approach to patient care. Our Wellness and Nutrition Services can assist patients with eating healthy on a budget, exercise and physical activity planning, helping your child grow healthy, healthy eating before, during, and after pregnancy, managing your health condition, understanding what foods to eat, and more. 

Neighborhood Health Center believes that everyone deserves to have equal access to affordable and fresh produce. We are thrilled to be partnering with MAP’s Mobile Market, and to spotlight their mission. 

The Mobile Market offers small boxes ($10) and large boxes ($14) of their produce. They also offer cartons of eggs at all of their stops.

To reserve your produce box: 

• Text @NHCMATTINA or @NHCNW to 81010 and follow the texted instructions
• Order by Sunday at 4:00 p.m. for the upcoming Wednesday

To join the Remind Text program, text @NHCMATTINA or @NHCNW to the phone number 81010. Follow the prompts to join. Those that sign up for the Remind text program will be sent a list of the week's produce and a link to order every week.  

Payment Methods:

• Cash
• Credit/Debit Card
• WIC
• SNAP
• Double Up Food Bucks
• Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program Checks