Once a month, dismissal at Boone Elementary School in Southeast DC comes with something extra: fresh produce, music, cooking demonstrations — and sometimes even a little karaoke.
The school is one of 48 Joyful Food Markets sites, a partnership between the Capital Area Food Bank and Martha’s Table that brings no-cost, farmers-market-style markets directly to school communities in DC’s Wards 7 and 8.
On their way to pick up their kids, families stopped by the conveniently located tables to pick out fresh fruits, vegetables, and pantry staples to bring home.
For Yoneko, a Boone parent of four who learned about the market through a school flyer, having fresh food available right at her children’s school makes it easy to participate. Her kids love the fruit for snacks, and she appreciates the quality of what they bring home.
“It’s better quality than some of the grocery stores,” she said.
The markets also give families a chance to discover new foods. Cooking demonstrations, samples, and recipe cards offer ideas for using that month’s ingredients.
Fred Kinner, a Healthy Food Market Leader at Martha’s Table, has seen families come back excited about something they initially weren’t sure they would like. After he turned turnips into seasoned, air-fried chips at one market, participants returned to tell him, “That was some good stuff right there.”
Lakita, who grabs produce as she picks up her granddaughter from school, sees another benefit to that experimentation: “It gives us an opportunity to try new vegetables without taking out of our grocery budget.”
That combination of access, choice, and a welcoming environment is intentional. After moving from pre-packed bags to farmer’s market style, where families select their own food, Martha’s Table saw participation grow. According to Joyful Food Markets Operations Manager Chanel Diggs, the program surpassed its goal last school year, reaching more than 6,100 students and family members.But for Chanel, the numbers are only part of what makes the markets successful. Just as important is creating a place where families and students enjoy spending time.
“Joyful. Very much so joyful, and it’s not just a play on words,” Chanel said. “We enjoy what we do. We engage the community; we engage the students.”
For Market Leader Anthony “Tony” Wilkerson, that impact is personal. Before joining Martha’s Table two years ago, Tony first came to the organization while looking for food as a single father. The experience inspired him to apply for a job.
“I came in, and I said, I have to be a part of it,” he recalled.
Today, Tony and Fred are familiar faces welcoming families at schools each month. Fred says many participants now know him personally, reflecting the community that has grown around the markets.
“Food is for all,” Fred said. “It’s for anybody who needs it.”
Through the partnership, the food bank provides the fresh produce and other groceries that stock the markets, while Martha’s Table brings them into school communities and creates a space where families can choose foods they’ll use, discover something new, and have a little fun along the way.
Month after month, that means families can leave school dismissal with fresh food for the week ahead, new ideas for using it at home, and an experience that lives up to the Joyful Food Market name.
Photo Credit: Alyssa Schukar for Capital Area Food Bank