About Us
MISSION
WHO WE ARE
Broad River Community Market works to build a better food system by connecting people with fresh, locally grown produce who otherwise could not afford it.
Here in Cleveland County, like other rural communities, we face the irony that despite having lots of beautiful farms, many of our neighbors are struggling to feed their families, let alone access the quality nutrition they need to live healthy lives. For these same reasons, local agriculture has suffered— and the hills that were once home to many small farms have been taken over by monocrops and factory farms that destroy the soil for the profit of outside corporations.
By breaking down the economic barriers our community faces to accessing nutritious foods, we are building reciprocal relationships benefitting our local people, farms, and our land.
Our organization’s focus is to bring the food that grows in these deserts to the people who live there. We know that these deserts exist because of poverty, not the lack of food growing in our communities. Through our weekly markets, we have given away fresh fruit, vegetables, eggs, and milk to 719 households in just our first three months of operation. We have built relationships with the community around Jefferson Park, which experiences high levels of food insecurity, and strong partnerships with twelve local farms to source seasonal produce.
To create a thriving, equitable food system by providing crucial access to fresh produce in our rural foothills community through partnerships with local farmers.
VALUES
Empowerment: We will be more than a band-aid. In order to truly address hunger, we have to disrupt the systems that deprive people of food.
Mutual Aid: We work to build community solidarity and uplift each other through reciprocal relationships.
Connection to Land: There is no food without water and soil. We are committed to being good stewards of the land we live on through regenerative practices.
Dignity: All are welcome at our market. Shame is not. There is no shame in hardship.
VISION
Our vision is a community where everyone has access to healthy food.
Right now, we are doing food justice work. This means we are working to address the immediate needs of our neighbors by providing access to fresh produce.
Our vision is building food sovereignty. Food sovereignty is the right of communities to define and control their food system.
You can learn more about food sovereignty and the movements we are learning from here.
