Meadville Sustainable Regional Food System
PEC has been a regional advocate of community-based food systems for the past 12 years. The Meadville Market House is the oldest market house in continuous use in Pennsylvania. But by the 1960s, what once had been a vibrant, economically viable farmers' market since 1870 had devolved to an economically unstable business largely relying on retail sales of crafts produced outside the region. To reverse this trend and "reestablish the Meadville Market House as an economic, cultural and historical center of Meadville urban life and as a viable market to help sustain the region's working farms" PEC entered into an agreement in July 2005, with the Meadville Market House Authority to manage the Market House. Since this change in leadership, recorded sales at the Market House have increased significantly, and presently include both indoor (food and non-food items) and outdoor (farm food products in season) sales. A Huff Gravity model estimate of the potential market share at the Meadville Market House indicates that the fresh and prepared food sales at the Market House have the potential to increase from 136% to 636% above current sale's figures (David K. O'Neil. June 2006. Meadville Market House Revitalization Strategy) The "Revitalization Plan" was funded by a PA DCED First Industries grant. PEC successfully reestablished the Meadville Market House as the hub of a community-based food system, with that market helping to drive customer demand and catalyze local production. The final report is available here.
PEC has released its final project report, which concluded, "By taking this distinctive producer-market view toward problem-solving, PEC has positively impacted the long-term environmental and economic sustainability of the region, especially the sustainability of the region's downtown centers such as Meadville and the valley's working farms. By effectively managing the Market House, PEC has helped local farmers utilize that vibrant market for their produce, and given shoppers ready access to healthy, fresh, delicious locally grown foods."
By reaching these shorter term goals, the project laid the groundwork for four longer-term goals:
- A regional food system that is ecologically sound and economically viable
- Heretofore-unavailable access for low-income persons living near the Market House to easily obtain fresh, and locally and sustainably produced food
- A regional food system founded upon the principles of affordability, cultural responsiveness, encouraging nutritional and healthy eating habits, and fighting hunger among low-income persons
- Downtown Meadville economic revitalization.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Meadville Market House Sustainability Project - Final Report.pdf | 4.25 MB |