Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

ENROLLED ORIGINAL

                              A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION

                                             25-292

                   IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

                                      November 26, 2024

To recognize, honor, and celebrate the FRESHFARM H Street NE Market, on the occasion of its

       20th anniversary, for its continued presence as a beloved community gathering place and

       its decision to expand to year-round operations in 2025.

       WHEREAS, on June 5, 2004, the FRESHFARM H Street NE Market debuted on the 600

block of H Street NE, in the parking lot between the (since relocated) Department of Employment

Services and the Department of Human Services;

        WHEREAS, in 2004, H Street Main Street, the Department of Employment Services, the

Department of Human Services, the Office of Planning, the Office of Property Management, and

the H Street Community Development Corporation all worked with FRESHFARM to help create

the farmers market at a time when the H Street NE corridor neighborhood had limited options for

shopping for fresh groceries;

      WHEREAS, in 2004, the FRESHFARM H Street NE Market ran every Saturday until

October 30, 2004, and it has operated every year from spring through fall since then;

        WHEREAS, in 2008, the FRESHFARM H Street NE Market was the first farmers market

in the District to accept SNAP/EBT benefits;

        WHEREAS, in 2009, the FRESHFARM H Street NE Market became the first market in

the District and among the first in the country to offer an incentive match (today called

FreshMatch), which provides a dollar-for-dollar match on all federal benefits spent at the market,

helping shoppers take home more fresh produce and nutritious foods and helping stretch federal

nutrition dollars further;

        WHEREAS, over the past 2 decades, shoppers have spent more than $250,000 in nutrition

benefits and incentives at the FRESHFARM H Street NE Market, which has helped establish the

FRESHFARM H Street NE Market as a pioneering example of how farmers markets can foster

food security, create robust revenue streams for the local food economy, and support community

resilience;

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                                                                       ENROLLED ORIGINAL

       WHEREAS, on November 20, 2010, FRESHFARM H Street NE Market was the first

market where FRESHFARM conducted a FRESH Food Drive in partnership with First Church of

Christ Holiness, where shoppers made cash donations and FRESHFARM worked with farmers at

the market to purchase fresh, local food, which First Church of Christ Holiness used to create

Thanksgiving baskets for food-insecure families;

       WHEREAS, in subsequent years, FRESHFARM has conducted FRESH Food Drives at all

FRESHFARM markets, raising tens of thousands of dollars to purchase fresh, local food from

regional farmers and producers, which FRESHFARM donates to food recovery and emergency

food assistance partners across the greater Washington, DC metro area;

        WHEREAS, since 2010, First Church of Christ Holiness has been the weekly food rescue

partner for the FRESHFARM H Street NE Market, collecting unsold produce and other foods at

the end of market and distributing them to neighbors;

     WHEREAS, in 2012, the 600 block of H Street NE underwent development, and

FRESHFARM H Street NE Market relocated to 13th Street NE between H and I Streets;

       WHEREAS, on Sunday, May 31, 2015, First Church of Christ Holiness gave the 2015 First

Church Partnership Award to FRESHFARM in appreciation for their 5 years of commitment and

devotion, and recognizing that between 2010 and 2015, FRESHFRM H Street NE Market donated

12,000 pounds of food to help fight hunger in our community;

       WHEREAS, for 2 decades, the FRESHFARM H Street NE Market has been a vital food

access point and beloved community gathering place for thousands of families and neighbors;

        WHEREAS, the FRESHFARM H Street NE Market will operate every Saturday (9am to

12:30pm) at 13th Street NE between H and I Streets from January 4 through December 27, 2025,

and for many years to come;

        WHEREAS, the FRESHFARM H Street NE Market will host a rotating lineup of one

dozen farmers and producers from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the District, who will

bring a robust mix of seasonal fruits and vegetables, artisan baked goods, pastured meat and eggs,

locally roasted coffee and distilled spirits, and perhaps most importantly, a deep understanding of

our local food system, our local environment, and a passion to educate and nurture our community

through their stewardship; and

        WHEREAS, on December 14th, 2024, FRESHFARM will host a community block party

at the market with music, sampling, and giveaways to mark the year-round transition and its 20th

anniversary.

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                                                                  ENROLLED ORIGINAL

        RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this

resolution may be cited as the “FRESHFARM H Street NE Market 20th Anniversary Recognition

Resolution of 2024”.

       Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes, honors, and celebrates the

FRESHFARM H Street NE Market, on the occasion of its 20th anniversary, for its continued

presence as a beloved community gathering place and its decision to expand to year-round

operations in 2025.

       Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately.

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