Community Partnership rolls out Produce Cart
The Community Partnership’s Produce Cart is ready to roll out following a successful practice run earlier this week.
The Produce Cart, a small bus converted into a food truck selling locally grown produce and dairy products, held a soft launch Tuesday at a free family fun night hosted by state Rep. Marci Mustello, R-11th, at the Butler Farm Show in Connoquenessing Township.
“I think we did pretty good. We sold about $230 and made some presales of produce items,” said Sandra Curry, executive director of Community Partnership. “For not doing any advertising whatsoever, we did just fine.”
Soon, the cart will be making regular stops in three area communities, including the city of Butler. A start date hasn’t been set yet, but the cart is expected to be open from noon to 6 p.m. in the city of Butler on Tuesdays, in Aliquippa in Beaver County on Wednesdays and in New Castle in Lawrence County on Thursdays.
Those places are considered food deserts because many residents don’t own vehicles and don’t have access to fresh food, Curry said.
Locally, the cart will stop at the Butler City Farmers’ Market on Chestnut Street. Locations for stops in Aliquippa and New Castle haven’t been finalized yet.
“We’re going to try to run all year round, but weather may have an impact,” Curry said.
Before taking on its weekly schedule, the cart will continue making pop-up appearances, including one at the Big Knob Grange Fair in Beaver County.
Community Partnership is buying produce from farmers in the three counties, but will have to buy from wholesalers in the winter, she said.
Plans are being finalized to buy meat and dairy products, including milk to sell from the cart, she said.
“There’s nothing else like this in Western Pennsylvania,” Curry said. ”Once we get going and we get more notoriety, we’re going to be doing something that's pretty cool.”
The interior of the bus, which was purchased from Butler Area Rural Transit, was renovated for selling products and the exterior was decoratively wrapped.
“It looks amazing. I couldn’t be happier,” Curry said.
To check out where the Produce Cart will be next, visit www.theproducecart.com.
