Coastal Credit Union and Ripe for Revival Debut New Mobile Food Market

On June 13, Coastal Credit Union and Ripe for Revival hosted a ribbon cutting and announcement of their new partnership. The event showcased Ripe for Revival’s new Coastal-branded mobile food market that will participate in community events feeding those in need. Funding for the mobile market was made possible in part through more than $100,000 in grants from the Coastal Credit Union Foundation.   

“We’re proud to be a collaborative partner with Ripe for Revival,” said Tyler Grodi, Coastal’s president and CEO. “The mobile market is a wonderful resource for the community, and we know that there’s a strong correlation between food insecurity and financial vulnerability. By teaming up, our goal is to help address both.”    

Ripe for Revival works to address common factors that contribute to food insecurity, such as transportation, proximity to grocery stores, and income. The mobile market program features a fleet of transit buses and trailers that have been retrofitted with produce shelving, refrigeration, freezers, and mobile cooking carts. Buses are routed to reach communities in need and make fresh, healthy, local produce, proteins, dairy, and eggs accessible and affordable.

The mobile market follows a “pay what you can” model and provides nutrition education and taste testing to highlight the produce that’s available each day. Each person leaves with a recipe for future recipe preparation. Helping to build confidence and dignity with each experience.

Ripe for Revival also works directly with farmers to purchase excess produce that would otherwise be left in the field to "bridge the gap between farm excess and food access."