Episode 54: Margaret Smith, The Common Market Texas

The Common Market is a mission-driven distributor of regional farm products. They partner with farmer and grower networks and handle the distribution of their local products — ensuring customers get easy access to some of the best foods their regions have to offer. Since 2008, The Common Market aggregated and distributed over $22 million of local foods from over 200 sustainable family farms and producers. Currently operating in the Mid-Atlantic, Georgia, and Texas, The Common Market is expanding to other U.S. regions to build a nation of vibrant regional food systems.

From https://www.thecommonmarket.org: Margaret Smith is the Director of The Common Market Texas and is based in Houston. The Common Market Texas connects institutions and communities with Texas-grown good food from sustainable producers. They provide specific grower information and it's printed on every invoice and every case of food so you know exactly how the food is grown and where it's coming from.

Note: Evan Driscoll, Co-founder and Producer of The Checkout, is a Board Member of The Common Market Texas.

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Episode #54 Notes

1:00 - How did The Common Market get started?

3:00 - Common Market business model.

3:50 - Working with foundations.

5:00 - Common Market stakeholders.

8:00 - On working with farmers and suppliers.

11:30 - On expanding CM to Georgia and Texas.

19:00 - On Houston hip hop

20:45 - COVID’s impact on CM’s operating model.

30:00 - On sourcing locally in Texas, which is highly seasonal.

35:00 - On a fair and just food system.

36:30 - Book recommendations!

Taste of Country Cooking, Edna Lewis

Parable of The Sower, Octavia Butler