March 23, 2020 By Gardenia Moffett and Mindy La Reau
Several volunteers gathered at 3:15 a.m. Saturday morning to work together and support Produce on Wheels Without Waste (P.O.W.W.O.W) and an open-air market, at Harvest Christian Church in Sonoita, Arizona. At the March market, Sonoita, AZ Community Markets saw double the attendance, redistributing more than 11,200 LBS of fruit and vegetables. In addition, most of the community vendors in attendance sold out of their local products. There were a total of 14 volunteers who made this event possible.
One volunteer stated, “This was a positive experience to see the community coming together, in spite of all the fear and worry around the current COVID-19 pandemic.”
Gardenia Moffett, organizer of the community-wide event, made sure every volunteer followed a safety protocol which included washing hands upon arrival and wearing gloves while handling the produce. The produce was pre-packed and ready to be distributed, which minimized contact and distribution time. In addition, the event took place outdoors, in the sun, and the community vendors were spaced reasonably to avoid crowded groups. Hand sanitizers were also positioned in several locations for use as needed.
A recipient of the produce stated, “While the entire world is learning how to cope with the new isolation and safety protocols, I find it comforting to know that locals are willing to work together through these difficult times. Thanks to programs like Produce on Wheels, local participants are able to receive quality produce at a very reasonable price, while in a healthy environment.”
Produce on Wheels takes place every 3rd Saturday of the month, at Harvest Christian Church in Sonoita, Arizona. For updates and market information follow @SonoitaAZCommunityMarket on Facebook and Instagram or call/text Gardenia Moffett 602.292.1616.
