Montreal North market sells affordable local produce in food desert

A market in Montreal North is making fresh local produce more accessible to residents by cutting out retailers and keepingprices low.

Les Marchs du Nord is in its second year and looking to welcome as many people as possible.

"There's a demand for this here," said the market's coordinator Michel-Ange Imboua.

He explainedthere are many low-income families in Montreal North who find it difficult to "make ends meet."

The market was created by the Panier FutCoop in Montreal North, an organization that aims to increase the accessibility of affordable, healthy food in the neighbourhood.

Imboua says the local produce the market sells is less expensive than in supermarkets because the coop reached out to producers and farmers directly.

"Our goal is not to make money," he said. "Our goal with the market is really to give people access to food at low prices."

The food is also less expensive because producers don't have to send employees to spend the weekend at the market selling the food market volunteers do it for them.

There's only a small premium to help pay for the gas it takes to pick up produce from farmers.

A 2007 study of Montreal's food deserts, areas where residents need transit to access grocery stores, found Montreal North was one of the city's most deprived districts.

• Canadian cities have 'food deserts': study

The market is set up two locations on Charleroi Street every Saturday and in Parc Henri-Bourassa on Sundaysto increase accessibility.

Bus and metro to the supermarket

Marie-Sara Soukpe said she became a member of the coop and volunteers at the markets because she realized how difficult it could be to find healthy food at low prices when she moved to the neighbourhood.

"Ineeded to take the bus and the metro to go to the nearest shop to get whatever I needed," Soukpesaid, adding the market is a great activity in itself.

"It's a great place to come and talk to people, come socialize. We want people to meet each other and help the neighbourhood get more friendly," she said.

Tony Petronelli, who'd stopped by on a walk Saturday, agreed.

"It's one of the few times where you can get fresh, locally grown produce right at your doorstep, close by," Petronelli said."It's a nice environment, too."