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EASTERN MARKET CORPORATION TO EXPAND FOOD ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAMS WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY FORD TRANSIT DONATION
New Ford Transit Allows Eastern Market to Serve More Farm Stand Locations, Provide Greater Food Diversity As Market Celebrates 125th Anniversary
DETROIT – (June xx, 2016) – Ford Motor Company has donated a 2016 Ford Transit Connect refrigerated van to Eastern Market Corporation, helping the organization continue and expand its mission of building a healthier, wealthier and happier Detroit.
Ford Motor Company and its philanthropic arm, Ford Motor Company Fund, have been strong corporate supporters of Eastern Market. The new Transit Connect enables Eastern Market to expand its number of Eastern Market Farm Stand locations in Detroit each week, providing additional cold storage space and allowing the program to carry a line of perishable products they were not capable of providing previously.
“We talked to residents in Detroit neighborhoods about their needs, and it became clear that shoppers are in need of a full-service shopping opportunity,” said Dan Carmody, president of Eastern Market. “Our operations only allowed us to bring fresh produce and shelf-stable pantry items to our 21 weekly Farmer Stand sites. With the refrigerated Ford Transit van, not only will we be able to provide a range of locally-produced dairy items, healthy snacks and prepared meals to the neighborhoods we serve, we’ll be able to expand our reach to seven additional sites per week.”
“Ford Motor Company has been improving people’s lives with innovation and technology for more than 100 years — not only by building great vehicles, but also through investing in communities," said Shawn Wilson, Ford Motor Company Fund manager of multicultural engagement. “We are pleased to help Eastern Market expand its ability to ‘Nourish Detroit’ and provide greater food accessibility to our communities.”
Ford Motor Company has donated more than 50 Ford Transit vans across the country to support hunger relief efforts. The van for Eastern Market is equipped with a high roof that enables a person 6 feet 9 inches tall to stand upright inside, vinyl interior, power converter, interior cargo shelving and refrigeration capabilities. Each Transit Connect van offers 103.9 cubic feet of cargo space and is capable of carrying 1,470 pounds.
Ford Motor Company’s gift is part of Eastern Market’s “2016 Nourish Detroit” campaign; increasing philanthropic support for Eastern Market. Others are encouraged to become a Friend of Eastern Market with a donation before June 24, 2016, at
http://www.easternmarket.com/nourish/donate and to visit Eastern Market’s Tuesday and Sunday markets, open now through September from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., respectively.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global automotive and mobility company based in Dearborn, Michigan. With about 201,000 employees and 67 plants worldwide, the company’s core business includes designing, manufacturing, marketing, financing and servicing a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs and electrified vehicles, as well as Lincoln luxury vehicles. At the same time, Ford is aggressively pursuing emerging opportunities through Ford Smart Mobility, the company’s plan to be a leader in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience, and data and analytics. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide or Ford Motor Credit Company, visit www.corporate.ford.com.
About Eastern Market Corporation
Eastern Market Corporation (EMC) is the nonprofit that manages Eastern Market on behalf of the City of Detroit. Our vision is to create the most inclusive, resilient, and robust regional food hub in the United States and to ensure that Eastern Market is a community that nourishes a Detroit identity — from food to art and commerce to culture.
For more information, call (313) 833-9300, visit our revamped website at EasternMarket.com, or follow us on Twitter: @EasternMarket and Facebook: EasternMarketDetroit.