That Fresno Blog

NOSH “allows us to support farmers, support businesses, give back and do something enjoyable all at the same time!”

Meet Alyssa Shivers.  She helped start a new event happening every Friday night at Old Town’s Farmers Market called NOSH.  The goal of NOSH is to “provide, to nourish, to give.”  Nearby residents can accomplish this by attending Farmers Market in Old Town Clovis, purchase any amount of produce from a farmer and then purchase a matching amount for the farmer to put in a box.  The food is then collected at the end of the night.  The next day, your donations will be given to a local food pantry. “A little for you and a little for me,” Alyssa says. What could be easier?

Alyssa works near Old Town Clovis, so she sees the Salvation Army’s distribution center for food.  On Tuesdays, cars are lined up around the block. “I get goosebumps every time I pass it,” Alyssa says. After hearing Blake Mycoskie of TOMS Shoes talk in person about helping  those in need, she came up with the idea for NOSH.  Alyssa thought it would be a perfect way to provide families in need with produce since, she says, most don’t get fresh food in their diets. In fact, according to the 2010 edition of an national study, Fresno ranks No. 1 in food hardship. By purchasing food from local farmers, NOSH gives Fresno an opportunity to support needy families, she says.

NOSH kicked off last Friday, June 10, and was already a success.  The goal was to raise 50 pounds of produce. Through the support of individuals and businesses, they managed to raise 700 pounds.  While the original plan was for NOSH to occur a few times this summer, due to its success Old Town Clovis is able to have it every farmers’ market — every Friday night.

“I feel like we started a little behind the ball on marketing,” Alyssa admits, “but now we want people to know and put it on their calendar.”  She believes that spreading the word would make the impact even greater than the already overwhelming response to the first event.

Next summer, NOSH is scheduled to be part of each farmers’ market. By then, Alyssa hopes that the same principle of matching donations can be applied to other organizations around Fresno.

DETAILS

Available at the Old Town Clovis Web site. Farmers’ market is every Friday night from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. through Sept. 30.

CONTACT

Fan Old Town Farmers Market on Facebook.

Fan Dave Shivers State Farm Agency for updates about NOSH and photos from their successful first night. With each new fan they will donate a pound of fruit!

RSVP to NOSH for more details about the event and local pantries that will benefit.  Businesses can sponsor a vendor, too!

Meet Alyssa at the State Farm booth at Farmers Market near Pollasky and Fifth Street.

Check out more photos of Farmers Market on Flickr.

Have a lovely day in Fresno!

Veronica Stumpf

UPDATES!

6-17: 700 pounds were collected. So far, 120 families have been fed.