This World Sustains Us All.
People win, market stays
People win, market stays
People’s Farmers Market Victory In Milwaukee, eco-socialism in practice heading into the third year!
The summer of 2006 became a culmination of community-lead public actions that garnered the support of local residents, farmer’s market patrons and key city officials prompting the city to reject all development proposals and concede to the demands of local residents to preserve the Mitchell Street farmers market.
A full house gathered on a Sunday afternoon for a Town Hall meeting two years ago to address residents’ concerns regarding the future of the Mitchell Street Farmer’s Market located on Muskego and Mitchell. Farmers, neighbors, and city residents organized by the Mitchell Street Farmer’s Market Coalition, headed by the Freedom Now! Collaborative demanded that the City provide a permanent home for the Mitchell Street Market and commit to putting the needs of the people first when deciding future plans for economic development.
“Our community must have the right to define our own food future and to be able to feed our community healthy, locally grown food that benefits local farmers and builds economic growth in our community. A way to reduce poverty and improve neighborhood stability is through local economic development, preserving green space, and economic security.” Said Matt Nelson, co-founder of the Mitchell Street Farmers Market.
Residents made their case to local Alderman James Witkowiak. The grievances expressed at the forum highlighted that development that did not include the public’s needs or input at this location would further harm the community. The alderman committed to tracking the status of the Mitchell and Muskego site while stating that he would help find a long-term location for the market.
“I support your cause and I want to work with you to find the best option that will benefit both the farmers and the community that rely on the market,” explained Alderman Witkowiak.
Tony Moua, a farmer at the Mitchell St. Farmers stated, “The meeting was excellent. Everyone was able to get together and speak with the alderman about the Mitchell St. Farmers Market. We feel good that alderman Witkowiak will respond to our requests to keep the Mitchell St. Farmers Market at Mitchell and Muskego permanently.”
The meeting also included a workshop discussing food sovereignty, the future of the Mitchell St. Market, and the possibility to create a Southside Community Food Center. The session discussed the formulation of trade policies and practices that serve the rights of peoples to safe, healthy, and ecologically sustainable production.
The intersection at the corner of Muskego Ave. and Mitchell St. is a vital community resource and one of the last remaining green spaces of this kind in the surrounding neighborhood. Furthermore, with 45 persons per acre, the Mitchell St. Farmers’ market services a large population in need of food security. During the summer of 2005 the Mitchell Street Farmers’ Market received the second highest volume of WIC checks in the state, and the highest volume of WIC checks in the city.
Currently, the Mitchell Street Farmers Market Coalition is focused on growing more than just produce we’re growing a movement in Milwaukee neighborhoods around food sovereignty and economic justice for all! We are planning community actions and fundraising efforts to build and mobilize community support during the 2007 Growing Season. Our Campaign Goals include:
1) Garnering a commitment from the City of Milwaukee to make the land at Mitchell Street and Muskego Ave. a public land trust and permanent home of the Mitchell Street Farmer’s Market.
2) The creation and implementation of a Community Food Assessment of the 53204 and 53215 zip code.
3) The creation of a community driven development plan for the Southside. This includes a Community Food Center that provides an economically viable community environment where people learn to grow and access high-quality, safe, healthy, affordable food for all residents in a community as a means to supporting local merchants and enhancing economic stability.
The season is here and our time is now! For more information, contact: Matt Nelson, Co-Founder, Mitchell Street Farmers Market Coalition, mattnelson64@hotmail.com, 414.273.9777.
People’s Farmers Market Victory In Milwaukee, eco-socialism in practice heading into the third year!
The summer of 2006 became a culmination of community-lead public actions that garnered the support of local residents, farmer’s market patrons and key city officials prompting the city to reject all development proposals and concede to the demands of local residents to preserve the Mitchell Street farmers market.
A full house gathered on a Sunday afternoon for a Town Hall meeting two years ago to address residents’ concerns regarding the future of the Mitchell Street Farmer’s Market located on Muskego and Mitchell. Farmers, neighbors, and city residents organized by the Mitchell Street Farmer’s Market Coalition, headed by the Freedom Now! Collaborative demanded that the City provide a permanent home for the Mitchell Street Market and commit to putting the needs of the people first when deciding future plans for economic development.
“Our community must have the right to define our own food future and to be able to feed our community healthy, locally grown food that benefits local farmers and builds economic growth in our community. A way to reduce poverty and improve neighborhood stability is through local economic development, preserving green space, and economic security.” Said Matt Nelson, co-founder of the Mitchell Street Farmers Market.
Residents made their case to local Alderman James Witkowiak. The grievances expressed at the forum highlighted that development that did not include the public’s needs or input at this location would further harm the community. The alderman committed to tracking the status of the Mitchell and Muskego site while stating that he would help find a long-term location for the market.
“I support your cause and I want to work with you to find the best option that will benefit both the farmers and the community that rely on the market,” explained Alderman Witkowiak.
Tony Moua, a farmer at the Mitchell St. Farmers stated, “The meeting was excellent. Everyone was able to get together and speak with the alderman about the Mitchell St. Farmers Market. We feel good that alderman Witkowiak will respond to our requests to keep the Mitchell St. Farmers Market at Mitchell and Muskego permanently.”
The meeting also included a workshop discussing food sovereignty, the future of the Mitchell St. Market, and the possibility to create a Southside Community Food Center. The session discussed the formulation of trade policies and practices that serve the rights of peoples to safe, healthy, and ecologically sustainable production.
The intersection at the corner of Muskego Ave. and Mitchell St. is a vital community resource and one of the last remaining green spaces of this kind in the surrounding neighborhood. Furthermore, with 45 persons per acre, the Mitchell St. Farmers’ market services a large population in need of food security. During the summer of 2005 the Mitchell Street Farmers’ Market received the second highest volume of WIC checks in the state, and the highest volume of WIC checks in the city.
Currently, the Mitchell Street Farmers Market Coalition is focused on growing more than just produce we’re growing a movement in Milwaukee neighborhoods around food sovereignty and economic justice for all! We are planning community actions and fundraising efforts to build and mobilize community support during the 2007 Growing Season. Our Campaign Goals include:
1) Garnering a commitment from the City of Milwaukee to make the land at Mitchell Street and Muskego Ave. a public land trust and permanent home of the Mitchell Street Farmer’s Market.
2) The creation and implementation of a Community Food Assessment of the 53204 and 53215 zip code.
3) The creation of a community driven development plan for the Southside. This includes a Community Food Center that provides an economically viable community environment where people learn to grow and access high-quality, safe, healthy, affordable food for all residents in a community as a means to supporting local merchants and enhancing economic stability.
The season is here and our time is now! For more information, contact: Matt Nelson, Co-Founder, Mitchell Street Farmers Market Coalition, mattnelson64@hotmail.com, 414.273.9777.
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