LEAP Goes Mobile

Eating local, healthy, and fresh food just got a whole lot easier with LEAP Mobile Market.

The mobile market, a small bus filled with fresh produce and other goodies, will make weekly stops in Southeast and Northwest Roanoke.

What’s really cool about LEAP is that all the food you buy is sourced from local growers. All community markets operate under the 100 mile rule, which means that all items sold at the market must originate within 100 miles of the market location. And 90 percent of the producers’ good are from within 50 miles of the markets. Although it is not a rule, the majority of the products sold at the markets are produced using organic methods.

LEAP is a 501c3 nonprofit founded in 2009 and was originally a project of the Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op. In 2010, LEAP expanded by launching the year-round West End Community Market in partnership with the West End Center for Youth. LEAP’s strong foundation is rooted in the farmers, market vendors, and market customers who first jumped feet first into community markets. LEAP continues to build a stronger local food system thanks to committed individuals, LEAP Board members, market customers, LEAP staff and volunteers, community partners and our amazing food producers.

You can still find LEAP at its permanent locations – Grandin Village Community Market and West End Community Market.

Here’s the weekly schedule for the mobile market:

• Wednesday 2-4 p.m.: Lincoln Terrace Head Start (1801 Dunbar Street)
• Wednesday 4:30-6:30 p.m.: New Horizons Healthcare (3716 Melrose Ave.)
• Thursday 1:45-3:45 p.m.: Indian Village Head Start (1916 Wise Ave.)
• Thursday 4-6 p.m.: Metropolitan Community Church (8th St. and Dale Ave.)

There are plenty of other farmer’s markets all over the region as well. Find one in your neighborhood and visit this weekend.