Everyone Eats Fresh: Q&A with Crossroads Farmers Market Co-Director Michele Levy

Michele Levy may not have started Takoma Park's Crossroads Farmers Market, but as the co-director, she helped move it forward to becoming a market that supports the burgeoning Hispanic community surrounding the Takoma Langley Crossroads. With her help, the market has led the way for low-cost, locally sourced food options.

Takoma Park Patch sat down with Levy to find out what the market is all about and why people should come out.

Takoma Park Patch: When and how was the Crossroads Farmers Market conceived?

Michele Levy: Crossroads Farmers Market was the brainchild of the late John Hyde, who founded the market in 2007. His vision was to create the first farmers market in the country that was both intentionally situated in an underserved community and offered financial incentives for low-income area residents.

Just before the market opened and the Fresh Checks program was launched, Hyde received a call from the USDA that the matching program was in violation of USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS regulations). A conference call was held with 19 USDA officials, on which Hyde proposed two possible outcomes: a slew of media reporting about how the USDA shut down a program to get healthy food into low-income households or a series of news articles praising the USDA for supporting this innovative new program. The USDA rushed a waiver of approval to Hyde, and the market opened two days later.

Today, five years after the Crossroads opening, over 250 markets around the country operate on this double dollars model.

Takoma Park Patch: How did you initially get involved with the Crossroads Farmers Market?

Michele Levy: I initially joined Crossroads as a market assistant to my co-director, Michelle Dudley, in May 2009. I'd been selling for Keswick Creamery, a Pennsylvania dairy farm, at area markets and had recently left my job doing research on social and environmental impacts of industrial food production. I knew that my next step needed to include a deeper involvement in local agriculture and food justice work, and the Crossroads opportunity presented itself at the perfect time.

Takoma Park Patch: How has the market changed since you became co-director?

Michele Levy: . The numbers say it best. In 2009, we distributed just over $14,000 in Fresh Checks to low-income area residents. This season, we're on pace to distribute close to $60,000.

We've also expanded from a seasonal farmers market into a year-round, non-profit operation. In addition to running the actual market, Crossroads provides farm-to-table educational programming at local elementary schools, operates a hugely successful SNAP (food stamp) outreach and application assistance program, has jointly directed an urban farmer training program with Prince George's County-based ECO City Farms and supports other local food access initiatives, such as efforts to develop a low-rent commercial kitchen site for unemployed residents to get involved with food production.

We're also working closely with other farmers markets, anti-hunger organizations, local government agencies and other stakeholders as part of the Eat Fresh Maryland Network, a collaborative that we launched last year to develop best practices and resources for improving food access in individual communities throughout the state.

Takoma Park Patch: Where do you see the market going in the future?

Michele Levy: In my long-term vision for the market, hunger wouldn't be an issue in our communities. And the Fresh Checks program would be moot.

Until that happens, our goal is to continue improving community wellness by providing access to fresh, affordable, healthy food in a safe, positive, uplifting space. My personal hope is for the market to be increasingly community-based and community-driven. Through farmer training programs, culturally appropriate food and nutrition education, and support for local food-related microenterprise, I hope that Crossroads will increasingly become a market run by the community, for the community, with more Crossroads-area residents selling their harvest and value-added products.

We're striving to create a model of a holistic food system—looking at production, distribution and consumption—that can be replicated in other area throughout the country. For that to happen effectively, community involvement and investment is key.

People need to know that they have a voice and a stake in where their food is coming from, what's going on their families' plates—to feel empowered to actively participate in their food system and both producer and consumer.

Takoma Park Patch: Why should vendors choose to come out to the Crossroads Farmers Market?

Michele Levy: Because Crossroads is a relatively small farmers market—we had 10 vendors in 2011—it's a great place for new or small-scale vendors to gain exposure and solidify a customer base.

Crossroads also has a different vibe from most other markets in the Washington, D.C., area; there's a wonderful chaos, a multitude of languages and faces and cultures and culinary styles and food preferences represented, giving vendors the opportunity to mingle with different folks and try out new products. For example, a number of our vendors have started growing chipilin and epazote, popular Central American herbs, to appeal to the Crossroads clientele.

Additionally, one of our primary objectives for the Fresh Checks program is to ensure that farmers who want to sell their produce in low- and moderate-income areas can do so without compromising their bottom line. Crossroads provides farmers the opportunity to cater to underserved communities while still generating revenue and selling their produce at a fair price.

Takoma Park Patch: Why should shoppers choose to come out to the Crossroads Farmers Market?

Michele Levy: To get in on the action! We have a delicious array of organic and sustainably grown produce, pastured meat and prepared foods.

Sligo Creek Farm's greens are some of the best I've ever tasted. Painted Hand Farm's eggs are shockingly rich and flavorful. And Tuckey's apples are making me hope fall never ends. You can fulfill your shopping list without being overwhelmed by too many vendors, and the market is small enough that customers have the opportunity to really build relationships with their farmers.

Everybody eats. At Crossroads, food is the focal point for creating a community gathering place, an all-out celebration, each Wednesday. We have live music with local artists from around the globe, activities for kids and families, themed special events and an amazing crowd of vendors and regular shoppers who infuse each market with an amazingly festive atmosphere.

And, of course, anyone using WIC, SNAP or any seniors over 65 can get an extra $10 every week of the market season to purchase fresh, local fruits, vegetables, meats and eggs.

The Crossroads Farmers Market is open from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. from May to October and is located at 7676 New Hampshire Ave.