Pop-up produce market offers fresh fruit and veggies for about a buck

Veggie Buck Truck at Bonneville Transit Center on Wednesdays beginning September 15

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 14, 2021

LAS VEGAS – One dollar for a pound of fresh fruit or a bundle of veggies? That’s about how much people will pay at the Veggie Buck Truck at the pop-up produce market at the Bonneville Transit Center (BTC). This pilot program is being offered by the Southern Nevada Health District’s Office of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion in partnership with the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC), Three Square Food Bank and Vegas Root’s Veggie Buck Truck to increase access to low-cost fresh fruits and vegetables.

The program is designed to increase access in an area that is adjacent to a neighborhood considered a “food desert” as well as the 8,000 customers who use the BTC daily. The Veggie Buck Truck will be at the pop-up produce market at the BTC on Wednesday, September 15, 22, and 29 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The BTC is located at 101 E. Bonneville Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89101. Additional services offered on-site include Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enrollment and nutrition information. For more information, call the Office of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at (702) 759-1270 or visit the Get Healthy Clark County Farmers Markets page.

The markets are open to everyone. Customers can use their SNAP benefits at the pop-up markets. People who use SNAP will be eligible for “Double Up Food Bucks” and earn a coupon they can apply to future produce purchases at participating locations. Customers can use cash, debit, or credit cards.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) describes a food desert as a location where a large proportion of households do not have access to grocery stores that provide affordable and healthy foods including fresh produce. According to the USDA’s criteria, more than 120,000 Southern Nevadans live in food deserts, areas without convenient access to a grocery store. The typical household living in a food desert in Southern Nevada earns less than $40,000 annually, and approximately 17 percent do not have a vehicle.

In Nevada, September is recognized as Fruit and Veggie Month as a reminder about the importance of maintaining a healthy diet and ensuring access to healthy choices to all members of the community. A healthy diet that includes fresh fruit and vegetables can help people maintain a healthy weight and help prevent or manage chronic diseases.

For a list of local farmers markets, including those that accept EBT, SNAP and debit or credit cards, visit the Get Healthy Clark County Farmers Markets page.

The Southern Nevada Health District serves as the local public health authority for Clark County, Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. The agency safeguards the public health of the community’s residents and visitors through innovative programs, regulations, and initiatives focused on protecting and promoting their health and well-being. More information about the Health District, its programs, services, and the regulatory oversight it provides is available at www.SNHD.info. Follow the Health District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.