The Health Trust kicked off its Fresh Carts mobile produce vendor program on Tuesday, July 22nd at Cristo Rey High School. Representatives from The Health Trust, San Jose City Council, San Jose Earthquakes, and Cristo Rey High School spoke on the benefits of eating healthy and increasing access to fresh produce.
Fresh Carts is a mobile produce vendor program bringing fresh fruits and vegetables to public areas in residential neighborhoods of San Jose. “Launching our Fresh Carts social enterprise is a realization of The Health Trust’s goal to increase access to healthy foods throughout San Jose. We believe eating healthy should be fun, fresh and fast. Our Good. To Go. campaign delivers this message and launching our Fresh Carts makes this possible,” said Health Trust CEO, Frederick J. Ferrer.
The program provides entrepreneurial opportunities to neighborhood residents, who operate their own carts, while bringing healthy foods into low-income neighborhoods. Elisabeth Cruz, along with her husband, is among the first vendors to begin operation. “I started this project to offer healthier choices to my community because I want to help my community fight diabetes and other diseases and provide a healthier life for my children. This project is not only important to me and my family, but to the community as a whole,” said Cruz.
Councilmember Sam Liccardo and San Jose Earthquake Yannick Djalo advocated the importance of eating healthy and shared their support of Fresh Carts. “Eating fruits and vegetables daily is an important part of my diet; they help me stay fit and healthy enough to play soccer,” said Djalo, who played soccer with Cristo Rey students.
The Health Trust won Google’s Bay Area Impact Challenge in June for its proposal to create new distribution channels for affordable produce in Santa Clara County, including Fresh Carts. The Fresh Carts campaign is part of the new Good. To Go. brand of food established by The Health Trust’s Healthy Eating Initiative. Good. To Go. offers high-quality, tasty foods that fit San Jose residents’ busy lifestyles. Other Good. To Go. vendors include small farmers’ markets, healthy corner stores and community gardens.
About Fresh Carts
Fresh Carts is a mobile produce vendor program that will bring uncut, fresh fruits and vegetables to public areas in residential neighborhoods of San Jose. The program provides entrepreneurial opportunities to neighborhood residents, who operate their own carts, while increasing access to healthy foods in low-income neighborhoods. A few vendors from our first cohort are currently operational in San Jose.
About Good. To Go.
Good. To Go. is a community-based campaign aimed at increasing San Jose residents’ purchase of produce and healthy foods. Good. To Go. The campaign is organized through a network of on-the-ground, trusted community vendors, including Fresh Cart mobile produce vendors, corner store retailers, and urban farmers and gardeners. The campaign will kick off in three key neighborhoods: Five Wounds/Brookwood Terrace, Mayfair and Washington.
About The Health Trust
The Health Trust is a nonprofit foundation that provides grants, services and advocacy to support its vision of Silicon Valley as the healthiest region in America through its three initiatives – Healthy Living, Healthy Eating, and Healthy Aging. The Health Trust Healthy Eating Initiative works to increase access to healthy foods through policy and system change. For more information, visit www.healthtrust.org.
For information contact:
Robert Johnson
408.513.8705
rjohnson@healthtrust.org