The SF Market – the Bay Area's source for fresh produce, welcomed Congressman James McGovern (D-MA), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, to its Bayview Hunter's Point facility on Thursday, August 19 during the Representative's national listening tour to help advance a comprehensive nationwide plan to end food insecurity in America.
The visit was co-organized by the San Francisco Food As Medicine Collaborative and SPUR and included several local site visits. The 485,000 ft2 SF Market is home to 26 merchants who move millions of pounds of fresh produce through the Bay Area into independent retailers, restaurants and nonprofit organizations.
Congressman and Chairman of the House Rules Committee, James McGovern (left), meets with Arcadio’s Produce salesperson Jorge Delgadillo and co-owners Manuel Orozco and Luis Orozco inside The SF Market in San Francisco.
As part of its Food Recovery Program and the Food As Medicine CV-19 Emergency Response Program, The SF Market works directly with over 30 local organizations to ensure the community has access to high quality, nutritious food. These local programs are engaged in direct services for low-income residents, communities of color, seniors, youth, families, and unhoused community members.
To date, The SF Market programs have distributed a cumulative total of over 8 million pounds of produce and other food to Bay Area organizations, including nearly 5 million during the pandemic alone.
Congressman James McGovern represents Massachusetts' 2nd congressional district as a member of the United States House of Representatives – a role he has held since 1997.
McGovern is Chair of the House Rules Committee, Co-Chair of the House Hunger Caucus and member of the House Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations, firmly believing that food ought to be a fundamental right for all Americans.
"The Market is more than just vendors and distributors - they are people dedicated to providing mom and pop shops and restaurants with quality produce and ensuring that those in need have healthy food throughout the COVID pandemic. They're an example of what can be achieved when we join forces and commit to expanding access to healthy foods in a way that respects the culturally diverse community. I'm looking forward to seeing how they further combat food insecurity in the years ahead as they look to expand their market and build on their incredible work," said Chairman McGovern.
For more information: sfproduce.org