Grow North Farm opened its produce stand in Mountain View for the first time this year on Friday. This is the second summer that independent growers have sold produce at the site, located at 3601 Mountain View Drive. Though there won’t be a traditional weekly farmers market event at the site this summer, there will be a produce stand at the lot adjacent to the gardens Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. all season.
Keenan Plate, refugee agriculture program coordinator for Catholic Social Services, said there are nine growing businesses contributing this year, up from six last summer. Most are clients of Catholic Social Services’ Refugee Assistance and Immigration Services program and participated in the Fresh International Gardens training program. Grow North growers also sell produce at the Spenard and Muldoon farmers markets and sell wholesale.
“Now that people recognize the name Grow North Farm more, we’re having more vending opportunities for local restaurants and other businesses,” Plate said.
On Friday, Zaugun Tangbou watered his plot while other vendors made sales. Tangbou said he has already harvested and sold bok choy this year and said his radishes were just about ready to sell. He’s also growing cauliflower and Chinese cabbage, he said.
Grow North Farm is a joint effort of Catholic Social Services and Anchorage Community Land Trust. Grow North Farm farmers earned more than $20,000 last season, according to the trust.
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