Food

Big Victory for Market Match, but the Fight Isn’t Over!

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Big Victory for Market Match, but the Fight Isn’t Over!
We’re excited to share some great news! Last week, advocates of the Ecology Center-led Market Match program celebrated a significant victory. After months of hard work opposing Governor Newsom’s proposed funding cuts to the program informing legislators about its benefits, the California Legislature announced a plan to protect the California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP) in… Read more »

Ecology Center’s food justice work in the East Bay: Launch of first grocery store location for Market Match in West Oakland

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Ecology Center's food justice work in the East Bay: Launch of first grocery store location for Market Match in West Oakland
Ecology Center is proud to announce our recent partnership and the start of Market Match at our first grocery store location in 2023 – Mandela Grocery Co-op in West Oakland! This means that all CA-grown produce is 50% off for shoppers spending their CalFresh EBT benefits. Market Match is a statewide program that is funded… Read more »

North Berkeley Farmers’ Market Lifts All-Organic Rule to Boost Inclusivity and Variety

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avocadoes, lemons, and oranges for sale at the Berkeley Farmers' Market
  In an intriguing and exciting development, the North Berkeley Farmers’ Market plans to broaden its product selection and help foster small vendor inclusivity by removing its all-organic certified vendor requirement. The decision to lift the all-organic certification mandate for agricultural vendors at the North Berkeley market comes as a response to challenges surrounding product… Read more »

Market Match Update: Funding Secured! CA State Budget Funds Program Through 2028

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Market Match Update: Funding Secured! CA State Budget Funds Program Through 2028
Thanks to the support of many organizations, elected officials, and individuals, Ecology Center’s Market Match program has secured funding through 2028. The California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP), which funds Market Match, received $35 million in the 2023 State Budget, thanks to the hard work of many supporters.  Market Match enables CalFresh shoppers to double their… Read more »

Berkeley Farmers’ Market Press Release

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Berkeley Farmers' Market Press Release
City of Berkeley Proclaims Aug. 6-12 “Berkeley Farmers’ Market Week” to Celebrate and Support Local Agriculture Berkeley, CA – Mayor of Berkeley, Jesse Arreguín, alongside Berkeley City Council members, signed a proclamation on Tuesday declaring August 6-12 as Berkeley Farmers’ Market Week at the July 25th City Council meeting. Berkeley Farmers’ Market Week will be… Read more »