Salud Heroes of the Week: Leaders Bring Farmer’s Market Back to Brownsville, Texas

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Editor’s Note: Salud Heroes are a weekly feature from the Salud America! Growing Healthy Change website, which aims to empower healthy changes in Latino communities through news, resources, and stories.

eat greenResidents of the largely Latino city of Brownsville, Texas, struggle to find affordable, healthy food in their neighborhoods.

Urban sprawl had forced the closure of existing farmers’ markets and community gardens to pave way for shopping malls and chain restaurants.

City leader and physician Dr. Rose Gowen, worried about local obesity rates, partnered with health officials, researchers, and community members to create a farmers’ market that would serve up fresh produce to residents.

After a lot of planning, raising awareness, and mobilizing support, the community group and Parks and Recreation Department officials signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)—a written agreement between two parties that outlines expectations with a common goal in mind—so the group could use city land to install a farmers’ market and sell fresh produce to the community.

The Brownsville Farmers’ Market is open year-round from 9 a.m. to noon each Saturday.

“I love bringing my grandchildren here to the farmers’ market because they learn where food comes from,” said Rosie Bustinza, who is a regular at the market. “This just takes us back to the way our ancestors, our grandparents, and our parents use to go and shop at the Mercado.”

Read the full story here or watch the video.

Find resources to start a change like this in your area.

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By The Numbers By The Numbers

20.7

percent

of Latino kids have obesity (compared to 11.7% of white kids)

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