Some farmers markets were reportedly about to shut down in Los Angeles, but Sweetgreen is saving the day.
The Los Angeles-based fast-casual chain said Thursday it has made a commitment to Food Access LA, a nonprofit behind eight farmers markets at risk of closure in underserved neighborhoods. Though specifics of the support were not disclosed, the company said it will cover operating costs for the organization through 2025.
The move will keep farmers markets open in neighborhoods like Atwater Village, Compton, Crenshaw and Watts, for example, which in recent months have seen sales drop dramatically, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The report indicated consumer concern about the uncertain economy could be a factor, as well as lingering effects of entertainment-industry labor strikes in Los Angeles last year.
Keeping the markets open, however, also helps independent restaurants that source fresh produce from farmers markets.
Jennifer Grisson, executive director of Food Access LA, said in a statement that the organization is thrilled with Sweetgreen’s support.
“Farmers markets are more than a place to buy fresh produce; they also make it possible for farmers to earn up to four times more than they would through traditional grocery settings and offer community space for holistic wellness,” Grisson said.
Since it was founded in 2007 in Washington, D.C., Sweetgreen has supported small growers. Co-founders Jonathan Neman, Nicolas Jammet and Nathaniel Ru bought from a farmers market in D.C.’s Dupont Circle neighborhood where they build relationships with farmers, the company said.
Now a 240-unit chain, Sweetgreen continues to work with local and regional suppliers, including some of those early partners from the Dupont Circle market, like goat cheese maker Firefly Farms.
“Farmers markets have always been central to the Sweetgreen story, and for many communities, they’re the primary source of fresh food,” said Jammet, Sweetgreen’s chief concept officer, in a statement. “We’re proud to work with Food Access LA to help keep these markets thriving and ensure they continue serving local communities in the year ahead.”
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