Urban Growers Collective’s goal is to bring the benefits of healthy, locally grown produce and other foods to Chicago’s communities while supporting the growth of Chicago’s urban farmers.

Urban Growers Collective’s Fresh Moves Mobile Market uses converted city buses as mobile farmers markets. ‘The produce aisle on wheels’  works toward closing the ‘food access’ gap by bringing produce to schools, community and health centers — places that folks already frequent — to help customers easily buy nutritious produce. Customers board bus and fill their bags with delicious local vegetables, produce and fruit.  Produce is priced to be affordable for all and fair return for the farmers. 

Fresh Moves has the renewed opportunity to support healthy dietary choices and through access to consistent good food, support and information and health and school partners to provide a web of support to reverse diet related diseases and health disparities. Connecting with children and their families is a critical concern.

Fresh Moves is made possible by our generous sponsors: Barilla US, Chicago Transit Authority, and customers like you.

Fresh Moves Winter Schedule

December 2018-February 2019

Download the Winter Schedule here: Fresh Moves Schedule – Winter 2018

Follow the Bus on Social Media

Twitter & Instagram: @FreshMovesChi

Become a Site Partner:

Applications are closed until February 1, 2019, but if you would like to be considered as a site for the Fresh Moves bus, please use the link below:

Fresh Moves Site Application 2018.  Please email your completed application to freshmoves@urbangrowerscollective.org.

A little Background into Fresh Moves Mobile Market

Fresh Moves was formerly a program of Growing Power, Inc. and Food Desert Action, Inc. Below is the press release from 2015.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Growing Power Chicago Director Erika Allen announced a $100,000 federal grant to launch mobile markets in Chicago with two Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) buses no longer in service. This investment will enable Growing Power to provide locally-grown organic and sustainable foods to ten neighborhoods on Chicago’s south and west sides. In June 2012, Mayor Emanuel and USDA Secretary Vilsack announced a first round of federal funding to completely retrofit an out-of-service CTA bus into a fully-operational mobile market.

“Public and private investments in programs like Fresh Moves Mobile Markets are helping to ensure that all Chicago families have access to affordable, fresh and healthy food, neighborhood services and the investments in infrastructure, education and public space that create the vital communities of tomorrow,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “I thank Secretary Vilsack for recognizing the efforts Chicago is making towards our goal to reduce the number of Chicagoans that live without easy access to fresh, healthy food, and thank Growing Power which continues to be a vigilant partner in these efforts.”

This investment means that Growing Power can expand mobile markets into some of the most underserved communities on the west and south sides of Chicago, including North Lawndale, Austin, Garfield Park, Washington Park, Englewood, Roseland, Woodlawn, Grand Boulevard, Fuller Park and South Shore. The buses will make stops at health clinics, schools, day care centers, farmers markets, parks, housing complexes and other community sites to bring fresh, locally grown produce to community residents.

Special thanks to Barilla US, the City of Chicago and Chicago Transit Authority for their sponsorship.