Fruit & Vegetable Coalition promotes healthy foods at Transit Center event

Sept. 19 event promotes healthy eating at uptown Transit Center

In honor of National Fruits & Veggies Month, the Mecklenburg County Fruit & Vegetable Coalition "Super Moms" will be at the Friendship Gardens "To-Go Mobile Market” in the uptown Transit Center on Sept. 19 to distribute fruit and veggie information and kid-friendly recipes. The group would love to have your support.

Friendship Gardens TO GO supplies uptown Charlotte and the many people using the CATS Transit Center with a quick and convenient location to buy fresh vegetables and produce options. Friendship Gardens TO GO is an expansion of the Friendship Gardens program and is made possible by Humana and the Charlotte 2012 host committee.
Friendship Gardens TO GO operates 3-6 p.m. Thursdays through October at the CATS Transit Center uptown. Look for the red truck in Bay X. Charlotte Transit Center next to the LYNX Blue Line track.

Hundreds of groups working together

More than 200 member groups of the Fruit & Vegetable Coalition are building a healthier Mecklenburg County by increasing access to and consumption of fruits and vegetables. The coalition’s goal is to get 25% of county residents to regularly eat 5 fruit & vegetable servings a day.
Current coalition activities include:

• Increasing number of local farmers markets and community gardens
• Advocacy for policies around improving fruit and vegetable access and consumption
• Community education of the benefits of fruits and vegetables

You and your group can get involved, too

Any organization or individual wanting to increase access to and consumption of fruits and vegetables in Mecklenburg County can join the coalition for free. Members get a monthly newsletter, networking, access to many materials and invites to the quarterly meetings.
The group’s website is chock full of materials, as well, including details on many community gardens, farmers markets, and gardening how-to materials.
Learn more at the coalition website or Facebook page.
Or simply attend the group's next meeting,  9:30-11 am Nov 8 at Mecklenburg County Health Department, 249 Billingsley Road, Charlotte, NC 28211

Volunteer to help mobile market

Friendship Gardens To Go needs volunteers to package produce at the Friendship Trays Kitchen (2401 Distribution St.) on Thursdays and then to sell the produce that afternoon at the Transit Center. Or you can make signs and help with marketing through social media, email and word of mouth. Learn more at the mobile-market website.