At South Michigan Food Bank, we believe that access to fresh, nutritious food should be available for every family. Our produce popups go beyond our Fresh Food Distribution program. From May through September, hit the road to bring food directly to neighbors experiencing food insecurity. In 2024 alone, we distributed over 99,000 pounds of food through these mobile produce popups, making a significant impact on the lives of individuals and families across our service-area.
The success of our produce popups this year is thanks to the unwavering support of our farming partners, volunteers, donors, and community partners. We were able to host produce popups in all 8 counties that we serve, providing fruits, vegetables, nuts, and other fresh items to hundreds of families across South Michigan.
Our produce popups are an essential lifeline for people who face barriers such as transportation challenges, tight budgets, or limited access to grocery stores. By bringing fresh food items directly to neighborhoods, we can ease some of the stress many of our neighbors experience when putting food on the table.
We aim to provide families with fresh food to supplement their meals, rather than having to make sacrifices. Many clients have expressed how the fresh options make a difference, allowing them to feed their families wholesome meals while managing other expenses.
For many, our produce popups represent more than just food—they offer hope, stability, and a sense of community. We look forward to continuing hosting produce popups in the future and to continue to bring nutrition to the forefront as we fight food insecurity.
