Waterloo Greens to Go

Greens to Go is a mobile produce stand that works to reduce food insecurity in the Waterloo community. The key tenants of the stand are keeping the produce, local, affordable, and accessible. The stand features entirely locally grown fruits and vegetables, and everything sold is harvested from farmers who live and farm around the Waterloo area. We harvest a large majority of the produce by hand, and because we provide the labor, the farmers sell it at a discount. Any produce we do not harvest is purchased at wholesale prices. Everything is then sold at no-profit, so the majority of items are a dollar or less. The stand accepts cash, SNAP/EBT, and an EBT matching program known as Double Up Food Bucks. By accepting food assistance benefits, we are ensuring that the produce is as accessible as possible to low income residents. This is the third year Greens to Go has been in operation. We are currently moving towards increasing the project’s sustainability, so it can remain a constant in the community for as long as needed. Along with actively selling produce to the Waterloo community, Greens to Go is involved in a number of other projects. Greens to Go supports the Jesse Cosby Neighborhood Center’s youth empowerment program by hiring local youth to work at the produce stand. These youth gain valuable job experience and have the opportunity to help give back to their community. Greens to Go is also involved in a prescription produce program known as the Veggie Voucher Program. Dietitians at Covenant Clinic prescribe these three dollar vouchers to their patients. The patients can then use these at farmers markets to purchase local produce. Finally, Greens to Go was a pilot location for the SNAP/EBT matching program, Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB). This program helps SNAP recipients increase the amount of money they have to purchase produce. Customers can spend up to ten dollars on their SNAP card at Greens to Go, and then they receive a gift card loaded with the amount that they spent. They can then use this gift card in place of their SNAP card the next time they come to the stand.