NEWBURYPORT — Tables full of freshly picked greens were almost picked dry by the time the VegOut Market wrapped up Thursday as seniors took advantage of Nourishing the North Shore’s free program at the Newburyport Senior/Community Center.
“We had three tables full of produce, and in 30 minutes it whittled down to this,” Nourishing the North Shore volunteer Briana Palma said. “It was fast and furious, but so many happy people, and what’s better than that?”
Nourishing the North Shore is a local nonprofit with a mission of ensuring equal access to healthy, local food for all North Shore residents in a manner that builds community, fosters connection, and promotes dignity and self-reliance, according to nourishingthenorthshore.org.
The VegOut Market program makes it easy to get healthy, locally grown vegetables, with Nourishing the North Shore picking up vegetables straight from Essex County farmers and delivering them directly to pantry and food access partners. All produce is free to those who are visiting.
The market returned to the COA last week and is set to be available Thursdays from 10 to 11 a.m. through fall based on harvest seasons.
“It’s just so nice to be out in the community, talking to people, meeting them, and bringing them all of this amazing food,” Palma said. “I mean, we unpacked the food this morning, and it just looked so beautiful. It’s straight from the farm. People were commenting about the celery, how beautiful it looks. That’s not something you hear about celery in a grocery store! It’s just so nice to be out here with everyone.”
Among those providing produce for the market Thursday are Iron Ox Farm, New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, Wild Fern Farm, Hungry Heart Farm, Late Bloom Farm, and the Three Sisters Garden Project.
Nourishing the North Shore staff member Courtney Ayer said they had a great turnout.
“This was one of our most popular markets,” Ayer said. “We had over 50 people come today. They lined up before we even opened.”
Board member Tammy Bottnar shared what they had available at the latest market.
“Today we had fresh kale, Swiss chard, onions that are still attached to the green stalk, beautiful radishes, potatoes, heirloom tomatoes, cucumber, fresh basil, fresh fennel and tons of summer squash and zucchini,” Bottnar said. “It’s the most high-quality produce I’ve ever seen because it’s grown locally. They’re not stored anywhere. They’re just brought here this morning, and people get to take them home and nourish themselves in the best possible way.”
At a time when fears about produce are at a high as the nation faces an outbreak of cyclospora, a microscopic parasite that causes the gastrointestinal disease cyclosporiasis, tied to prepackaged produce, Bottnar said people were thrilled to be able to purchase fresh, healthy vegetables.
“They’re not being prepackaged and kept in bags and stored for weeks at a time, so this is fresh, healthy and no risk,” Bottnar said.
COA Program Director Mary Kelly said seniors love the market.
“It is everything to our seniors,” Kelly said.
Matt Petry covers Amesbury and Salisbury for The Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: mpetry@northofboston.com.