Market on the Move: Group 'Rescues' Produce, Gives It to Public Bob McClay - KTAR.com
go to original August 25, 2012

The 3000 Club is a national and international group of like-minded individuals, small business owners, volunteers and non-profit agencies and organizations who bond together supporting its two flagship projects: Food Rescue/Market On the Move and Medical Reclamation.

PHOENIX - Produce from Mexico is ending up in landfills, but a Valley group is working to put it into people's mouths instead.

Thousands of pounds of produce from Mexico goes to produce brokers in Arizona each month.

"Sometimes if it's not the right size, shape, or form, or if they need to create space for fresher produce to come in, most of this produce actually ends up being in the landfill," said Ethel Luziano, President of the 3000 Club in Phoenix.

Instead of that happening, the 3000 Club works with the Borderlines food bank in Nogales to pick up that produce and offer to the public at events it calls "Market On the Move."

Luziano said that with a $10 donation, anyone can load up on produce.

"In return, the recipient, the supporters, can get up to 60 pounds of produce," said Luziano. "We tell them to share it with people who they believe are in need."

And many people are doing just that.

"They get the produce and share it with the senior people," said Luziano. "They get the produce and bring it to an apartment complex that houses refugees from other countries."

In the summertime, Market on the Move happens at a limited number of locations in the Phoenix and Tucson areas. In the wintertime, it is expanded to several churches throughout Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties. The money collected from the donations goes to support the Borderlines Food Bank. The 3000 Club has a similar program where it picks up prescription drugs that are going to be thrown away and distributes them in Guatemala, the Phillippines and other foreign countries.

Every year, The 3000 Club members, supporters and volunteers help to –

• Rescue about 30 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Distribute over $45,000,000 worth of produce.
• Provide over 23 million meals.
• Help more than 460,000 families in need.
• Distribute fresh produce to more than 300 food banks and agencies across Arizona and throughout the United States.

The 3000 Club is a non-profit charitable organization working with Borderlands Food Bank, Valley View Food Bank, Feeding Arizona and other non-profit organizations. Please help us build communities that distribute fresh produce to those in need by becoming a member, supporter or provide volunteer hours (or doing all three)!

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