SouthCoast Today Article

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"NEW BEDFORD — A mysterious bag of fresh produce on your doorstep? It was likely dropped off by Tabor Academy senior Marc London, as part of a program he initiated to combat food insecurity in New Bedford.

London created Marc's Market, a project that delivers free, fresh produce to over 250 families every week. According to the website, "over the past year, Marc’s Market has supported more than 1,000 unique households."

"We're trying to give the feel of a farmer's market in a bag," he said. "We really want to address the food insecurity issue, especially with nutritious-type foods." 

The website states the program is funded entirely through donations. "Marc’s Market purchases fruit from New England Produce Center then bags and delivers packages to households throughout the SouthCoast."

London partnered with Arthur G. Silk Fruit in the New England Produce Center in Chelsea and through a combination of summer work money, donations and an ongoing fundraising effort, he is able to get the fruit at cost.

"I was looking to get involved in a food security effort in New Bedford and realized that there would be great benefit if I could bring food directly to the households right to their doors at no cost," London said about the program.

One Friday morning, Grayson Cohen, London and his father, Michael London, delivered 150 bags of fruit to residents at Blue Meadows apartments, a new stop on their route, and to 30 other houses at another site.

A few residents were outside awaiting their fruit delivery. One resident, who preferred not to share her name, said she appreciates them so much and it's really nice to be able to get fruit from them.

London created Marc's Market in an effort to fight food insecurity on the SouthCoast. They do weekly fruit deliveries, and the schedule runs for about 15 weeks throughout the summer. The website includes a list of delivery locations.

"I put up bags of fruit at each door, and these bags have QR codes right in the front," he said. "We usually leave apples, bananas and oranges or what is the freshest fruit."

Those who receive the fruit are asked to use the QR code to let London know if future deliveries are wanted. The options are "yes, I would like weekly deliveries," which comes with a request to include an address and the option of naming the recipient, or recipients can decline future deliveries.

London does most of the work himself but has five to seven volunteers who help him on busier days. He said they have reached more than 1,000 homes, and that number is growing significantly every week. And they also always remember to bring extra fruit for new customers.

He said about 25% of those who receive an initial bag of fruit ask for regular deliveries.

London said he and his volunteers regularly talk to residents and families accepting the fruit weekly, and it's really nice to see how happy the people are to receive it.

"We just know that we're helping people and to know that we're making the smallest difference is really what matters," he said.

While there are already some good food efforts on the SouthCoast, London thought it would be better to bring nutritious foods right to people's doors.

London, who commutes to Tabor Academy from Needham, had researched other food banks and decided that personal deliveries are more easily accessible. "Food insecurity is a big problem that is going on, and I really just wanted to address it as best I could in an area where I thought there was a lot of diversity with people that had different needs," he said.

He was prompted to focus on food security specifically in New Bedford because he has family from the area, including his father Michael London, who grew up in New Bedford and Dartmouth.

He plans to continue this effort next summer or as long as he can.  London corresponded with Mayor Jon Mitchell to share his plans about reaching as many neighborhoods as possible, to help fill people's needs as much as possible.

He hopes to be able to expand to other cities in the future."

Standard-Times staff writer Kathryn Gallerani can be reached at kgallerani@gannett.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.