Veggie Mobile in international competition
The Capital District Community Gardens' Veggie Mobile is one of the finalists in a "Designing for Better Health" competition being sponsored by a social entrepreneurship org and a major foundation. The winners of the contest get $5000.
CDCG launched the Veggie Mobile in 2007. From the org's contest entry:
Our mobile green grocer drives into targeted neighborhoods and sets up shop at pre-determined locations for weekly stops selling affordable, high quality produce at half the price of the grocery store. The Veggie Mobile concentrates its work in neighborhoods where the nearest grocery store is more than four miles away and where residents lack easy transportation and thus have severely limited access to affordable fresh produce.
There were 281 entries from 29 countries in the Veggie Mobile's categoy. Judges picked the 10 finalists, but the winners are picked by online voting.
[via @nick_crounse]
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Comments
Heh... I was just stuck in traffic this morning next to the Veggie Mobile
... said Slacker on May 19, 2009 at 3:22 PM | link
Sweet! Go Veggie Mobile!
... said Albany Jane on May 19, 2009 at 3:31 PM | link
Can we vote? I didn't see anything on the page about it.
... said Jessica R on May 19, 2009 at 5:12 PM | link
@Jessica R: There's a link to register to vote below the "how can I get involved" box.
... said Greg on May 19, 2009 at 5:14 PM | link
I was able to vote by clicking on the hyperlink to "Designing for Better Health" in the story. Once there, they would like you to register in order to vote. It took me 2 seconds. Then you must vote for three of the finalists. Go Veggie Mobile!!
... said margie on May 19, 2009 at 10:49 PM | link
Can anyone buy from the veggie mobile? Is there a schedule?
... said Becks on May 20, 2009 at 10:28 AM | link
@Becks -- yes! anyone can buy from the veggie mobile.
My buddy AlbanyJane buys from them frequently and one of the members of Sgt. Dunbar is a driver for it.
The schedule is here: http://www.cdcg.org/VeggieMobile.html
... said jess on May 20, 2009 at 10:49 AM | link
@Becks Anyone can buy from the veggie mobile and you can access the schedule by clicking the link on "the Veggie Mobile." I ran into it at St. Sophia's on time and they had some great stuff.
... said Emma on May 20, 2009 at 11:16 AM | link
In a world with more beautiful synchronicity, the Veggie Mobile would be modified to run on biodiesel.
... said B on May 20, 2009 at 11:38 AM | link
b- the truck does run on biodiesel
... said bill on May 20, 2009 at 11:55 AM | link
This sounds AWESOME. I am looking forward to becoming a customer.
... said Elizabeth on May 20, 2009 at 1:07 PM | link
Just note--the purpose of the Veggie Mobile is to serve inner city residents and senior citizens without transportation. (That's in the project description.) It's not intended for people who simply want to buy low-cost fresh produce, but aren't in those categories above. I live a 2-minute drive from St. Sophia, but I wouldn't buy from the Veggie Mobile because I assume the people who live in the senior housing there should have first crack at what must be a limited quanity of fresh fruit and vegetables. Does anybody know for sure (somebody connected to the Veggie Mobile) that they have ample supplies and wouldn't run out if a bunch of us started buying our produce at the Veggie Mobile instead of the farmers market, coop, or supermarket?
... said chrisck on May 20, 2009 at 2:15 PM | link
bill, thank you for reinforcing my belief that the universe is perfect sometimes.
... said B on May 20, 2009 at 2:54 PM | link
So if the Veggie Mobile is in my neighborhood, which I see by its schedule it is once a week, I am not supposed to patronize it unless I am a car-less senior citizen?
... said Elizabeth on May 21, 2009 at 3:12 PM | link
chrisck --
The Veggie Mobile is supplied with more than enough to accommodate a surge of customers. It's a service for everyone, not just those that need it.
... said Yay for Veggies! on May 21, 2009 at 3:22 PM | link
If it truly has a ton of fresh fruit + vegetables at discount prices for every customer, then that's fine. But its actual mission statement (on the website, and the project statement for the international competition) focuses on low income residents and people without transportation, and it is subsidized by grants and donations for that purpose. So, no, it's not a "service for everyone." Why would a non-profit provide that kind of service to the middle class in my neighborhood (upper New Scotland), which is adjacent to the St. Sophia stop? Obviously they aren't going to turn people away (or ask for proof that you are carless, low-income, or a senior), I'm just saying it's not really a veg convenience store on wheels "for everyone."
... said chrisck on May 21, 2009 at 5:36 PM | link
I think its super that AOA has reached such critical mass that simply by publishing this piece the Veggie Mobile is now in danger of being overwhelmed by AOA readers insatiable (if irresponsible) demand for roughage.
... said Elizabeth on May 22, 2009 at 8:44 AM | link