Although the primary purpose of the Flint Fresh Food Hub and Mobile Market is to get fresh produce directly from growers and producers to people in the community, they also serve an important role in simply providing information. And when the Mobile Market is in its familiar space outside of the Flint Farmers’ Market in spring and summer, they’re situated perfectly to do just that.
“It’s very valuable to be there,” said Jamie Stevens, outreach manager for Flint Fresh. “Because regardless of what brings people there, foot traffic gives us a captive audience to communicate, not only like showing them they can purchase produce from Flint Fresh, but really showcasing the entire market. It doesn’t matter if they buy produce from Flint Fresh or not, as long as they’re shopping their local market, as long as they’re boosting the local economy. A lot of times we’ll say, hey, if you like these tomatillos, go down to The Kickback on Thursday, the folks who have their stand there bought these tomatillos from this farmer, and you can go see how they make a meal with them.”
Stevens, who has been involved with Flint Fresh since 2021 in various capacities, has significant experience in Flint’s growing food ecosystem. She’s also a board member with Edible Flint, where her role is more focused on education and teaching people about food and growing. That complements work that Flint Fresh does in the community.
“My role in Edible Flint is teaching people how to feed themselves,” she said. “And Flint Fresh is doing the same thing, just kind of on the other end of the spectrum. So where Edible Flint gets to support and build the grower community, Flint Fresh gets to purchase from a lot of Michigan producers. The thrilling thing is that we can help create that bridge from what happens when you are growing to where does that food go?”
Flint Fresh Food Hub sources products from Michigan growers and makes fresh produce more accessible to residents. The food hub operates an online ordering platform where customers can purchase a variety of produce options, including farmer’s choice boxes, apple boxes, frozen produce bundles and individual items, with deliveries currently available throughout Genesee County.
One of Flint Fresh’s core offerings is its subscription-style produce box program, which provides curated selections of seasonal fruits and vegetables. Customers can place orders weekly and receive deliveries the following week, allowing residents to regularly access fresh, locally sourced food without needing to travel. These home delivery options are designed to reduce barriers such as transportation and help ensure healthy food reaches neighborhoods across the county.
“We participate with a lot of different community organizations to distribute food where it’s needed, and find those pockets even if folks aren’t speaking up, just kind of find the areas of where people need access to food, and then access to the information of how to get that food,” Stevens said.
Some of those partners include the Crim Fitness Foundation, Genesee Intermediate School District, the YMCA of Greater Flint, Genesee Conservation District, and Michigan State University Extension, among others.
The food hub also works to make its produce affordable by accepting a wide range of payment types and food assistance benefits. Flint Fresh accepts EBT and WIC and participates in programs that help stretch food dollars like Double Up Food Bucks, making fresh produce more accessible to families, seniors and others using nutrition benefits. By combining flexible payment options with convenient delivery, Flint Fresh plays a key role in connecting local farms to residents while expanding equitable access to healthy food in the community.
Flint Fresh also, while funding currently exists through the Michigan Fitness Foundation, is able to provide 75 percent off from some home delivery food boxes for EBT users, so for $5, eligible people would be able to get a produce box with $20 worth of food.
“That’s limited until the funds run out, but it’s a benefit we’re able to offer right now,” Stevens said. “Our website will always update with what becomes available in what season and, as those benefits change, that’ll always be up to date on the website too.”
Beyond food, the Flint Fresh team also tries to help people with other practical information, including how long food can be stored in the fridge, what types of foods can be frozen or canned, recipes they can make with different fruits or vegetables, and even how they can apply for or find out what types of benefits they’re eligible for. But mainly, the goal is to let people know what food is available to them and to encourage more participation in and knowledge of Flint’s expanding network of growers and fresh food sources.
“I would honestly say, folks knowing that there is the ability to purchase, produce and get food delivered to their home or their office, that’s the biggest thing that we at Flint Fresh can do because the more folks that know the convenience of fresh local food, the more they talk about it themselves, and that can inspire somebody to grow, that can inspire somebody to kind of be in their own food distribution,” Stevens said. “It can really give more energy in that area. Going out and supporting local businesses and folks at the Farmers’ Market, local farm stands like Grace Fields Farm, that’s all very beneficial to support the local growers so that way they can boost their demand and Flint Fresh can either purchase from them or give them more support in any way that’s needed.”
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