Farmers market to join shuttle service in increasing access to food in New Kensington

A new farmers market could join an existing shuttle service as an additional option to provide access to food for people in New Kensington.

The New Ken Downtown Partnership plans for the weekly market to be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays from April 19 to Oct. 25 at Fifth Avenue and 10th Street.

There has not been a grocery store in the city’s downtown section since Shop ’n Save closed in 2020.

Fresh food vendors would be complemented by food trucks offering prepared options, said Meredith Hedeen, a volunteer with the downtown partnership and owner of Ethical Hope on Fifth Avenue.

“The idea is to bring fresh produce, meat and cheese into the town to make them available to the entire community — those who have access to it on their own and those who don’t,” Hedeen said. “We want to make it a viable option so that people don’t have to travel outside of their community.”

The idea is about more than just food.

“It’s a really good thing for the community to have a gathering place among common interests. Food is frequently one of those,” she said. “It will also benefit the downtown region by bringing people in more frequently.”

The market is applying to be a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, retailer, said Michelle Thom, president of the New Ken Downtown Partnership.

“Additionally, we are working on ways to boost the SNAP funds through other programs, which will be of great benefit to those residents who use SNAP, and will then make purchasing from the market a more cost-effective option,” she said.

Vendors are being sought who can provide fresh local produce, meat, poultry, dairy, juice, cheese, bread and baked goods. They can attend weekly, monthly or for the full season, Thom said.

Applications from vendors are due by March 1 to downtownnkmarkets@gmail.com.

Efforts at opening a grocery store in the downtown area, often cited by residents as the area’s greatest need and missing asset, have so far not come to fruition.

“We believe that everyone deserves access to healthy food options, and many residents of New Kensington have limited options to purchase healthy, nutritious food,” Thom said. “Oftentimes, they need to walk long distances, ride the bus or find alternate transportation to purchase basic items.”

The Fresh Food Shuttle service, sponsored by the downtown partnership with Wesley Family Services and Westmoreland Community Action, started in 2023. It is supported by an award to Westmoreland County from the federal Department of the Treasury.

“The Fresh Food Shuttle program has been extremely successful in alleviating some of the issues with our food desert,” Thom said.

The shuttle is free for all residents 18 and older in New Kensington, Arnold and Lower Burrell. Door-to-door service is offered from any location in New Kensington and Arnold.

Available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the shuttle takes shoppers to Walmart, Aldi, Giant Eagle, Golden Dawn and local food banks.

For more information or to schedule, call 724-895-8270.

This story was updated Jan. 6, 2025, to clarify that downtown New Kensington, not the entire city, is without a grocery store.