The Intertribal Agriculture Council received a Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) in Fall 2012 to start this Mobile Farmers Market project.  This pilot project is seeking to develop a regional food distribution network to 1) expand Tribal food producers’ market access both locally and regionally, and 2) increase the native communities’ availability of fresh, health, and traditional foods.  Many of these native communities are in food deserts where access to quality foods is severely limited, so this project will help address food needs by both encouraging expanded local production and bringing in food from other areas.

The project is called the Mobile “Farmers Market” because it is working establish farmers markets in Tribal communities, which will help develop local food economies by creating market outlets within the respective communities.  However, the project is also working to develop a range of market opportunities.  Additionally, it is building connections outside the region to connect Tribal producers in other parts of the country where feasible and appropriate.  Eventually, the goal is to develop a stronger national Tribal food economy and distribution network with regional operations across the entire country.