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Mobile Food Market

Category: Mobile Food Market

Here are four reasons why we need people of all incomes to shop at the Mobile Food Market.

The Mobile Food Market (MFM) is a unique, community-driven initiative designed to make fresh produce accessible to everyone in our community, regardless of income level.

This initiative relies on the participation of everyone in the community. Here’s why:

  1. Sustaining Affordability: Our market operates on a sliding scale pricing model, meaning that prices paid are what customers can afford.   The menu of fruits and vegetables offered each week costs the food bank $10 – $15 per basket. We encourage those who can afford to pay more to do so, as this helps subsidize the cost for those who cannot. Often, even when customers pay $10, they save 30-40% compared to retail prices. If someone’s basic needs are at risk, they can visit our sites in person and pay the subsidized fee per basket which is $5.00. Customers choose what they can afford to pay, no questions asked. This model helps ensure that fresh, nutritious food is accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation. Your support in paying full price or even a bit more directly contributes to making this initiative sustainable and accessible for all.
  2. Reducing Stigma: By encouraging people from all walks of life to shop at the Mobile Food Market, we create a more inclusive and welcoming environment. This reduces the stigma often associated with food assistance programs, making it easier for those who need help to access it without feeling singled out.
  3. Building Community:The Mobile Food Market is more than just a place to buy food—it’s a space where community members can connect, share, and support each other. When people of all incomes come together at the market, we foster a sense of belonging and mutual respect that strengthens our community as a whole. A recent MFM survey tells us that 35% of people connected with additional support as a result of visiting the MFM.
  4. Promoting Food Security: Food security is a community-wide issue that requires a community-wide response. 92% of people who shop at the Mobile Food Market say that it has helped stretch their grocery budget and 87% are eating more fruits and vegetables. By shopping at the Mobile Food Market, you’re not only accessing fresh, healthy food for yourself, but you’re also supporting a program that ensures everyone in our community has access to nutritious food

Hours and Locations

The Mobile Food Market travels to many locations throughout Cambridge and one in Ayr. You can find our schedule and locations on our website or by following our social media channels. Shopping at the Mobile Food Market is simple—just visit the market at any of our scheduled stops, select your fresh produce, and pay what you can afford by cash or tap your card.

If you can’t make it to one of our in-person locations, you can still shop with us online and pick up your order at a local community center. This convenient option ensures you have access to fresh, affordable produce even if you can’t visit the Mobile Food Market in person. For more details and to start shopping, click here.

By shopping with us, you’re contributing to healthier people, a more connected community, and supporting environmental sustainability as the market purchases local produce whenever possible during the growing season.

Your participation makes a difference—thank you for supporting the Mobile Food Market!

Mobile Food Market Online Ordering

The Cambridge Food Bank’s Mobile Food Market now offers online commerce to shoppers with pick-ups at local community centres.


The Mobile Food Market, a beloved initiative by the Cambridge Food Bank committed to ensuring equitable access to fresh, afffordable produce, is proud to announce an expansion of its services. Building upon the success of its existing community locations and business site locations where communities and business site employees can pick up a variety of five fruits and vegetables, the Mobile Food Market is taking its mission to the next level by introducing a new commerce opportunity.


Starting April 2024, families in need of fresh produce will have the option to purchase weekly baskets online and conveniently pick them up at designated local community centres starting with the Fiddlesticks Community Centre every Thursday from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM. This innovative approach aims to provide yet another avenue for individuals and families to access affordable, nutritious food.


The Mobile Food Market is not just about providing fresh produce; it’s about connecting communities,” said Amy Slack, Operations Manager at the Cambridge Food Bank. “By offering weekly baskets for purchase online and pick-up at community centres, we’re making it easier for families to access healthy food options while also fostering economic opportunities.”


Understanding the financial constraints faced by many families, the Mobile Food Market is committed to keeping its produce affordable. Each basket costs the food bank between $10 to $15 to assemble. To ensure accessibility for all, customers are encouraged to pay a minimum of $10 per basket.

The Mobile Food Market remains open to everyone, regardless of income or background. With its new commerce opportunity and continued commitment to affordability and accessibility, the Mobile Food Market is poised to make an even greater impact on the health and well-being of our community.

Online Ordering (Opens Monday at 12 pm):Click here to pre order your produce basket and pick it up anytime between 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm on Thursdays, at Fiddlesticks Community Centre 71 Cowan Blvd, Cambridge, ON N1T 1K7.  Online ordering closes Wednesdays at 12:00 pm.

Online Pre-Order Pick Up Locations

Food for Healing: The Cambridge Food Bank Mobile Food Market’s Impact on My Recovery

To whom it may concern,

I am writing this letter to let you know what the Cambridge Food Bank Mobile Food Market (MFM) has meant to me.

I started going to the MFM around the time it first started, at least when I first heard about it.  It was during covid.  At the time, I was going through chemotherapy.  Going out to the MFM was the only time that I went out during the week that didn’t have to do with medical appointments.  I slept most of the time.  I barely had any energy to go anywhere.  Going to a grocery store would have been too much for me to handle.  I was also significantly immunocompromised so I couldn’t be around a lot of people.  It was all that I could handle to get myself to the MFM.  

Everyone was very nice and helpful.  These were the only people that I saw in a week, and it was refreshing to see such pleasantness, since I wasn’t feeling very pleasant or upbeat myself.

My sister would pick up a few odd groceries for me, but the fruits and vegetables that I got from the MFM were basically my staples.  I think the healthy food that I got from the MFM helped me in my recovery from cancer.  I ate more fruits and vegetables than I would have had I been left to my own devices.

Since I started getting sick I have also had to quit my job and go on ODSP.  As my oncologist said “this is your new full time job.”  I am sure that everyone is aware that ODSP is basically a starvation income.  The MFM has helped me to have healthy food that I would not have been able to afford otherwise.

To sum up my experience with the MFM…It has literally been a lifesaver.

Thank you

Our Mobile Food Market Provides Affordable Produce to Make Fresh Baby Food

Making your own baby food is easy, efficient, and economical. Instead of spending money on prepackaged baby food, you can use fresh produce, grains, and meat that you have on hand. Best of all, you’ll know exactly what you’re feeding your baby.

Going the do-it-yourself route also gets your baby used to eating the same food the rest of the family does.

Homemade baby food is also more nutritious and tastier than some store-bought food as it is made from fresh, whole foods and nothing else. 

Gena, one of our mobile food market customers enjoys visiting our weekly markets as she’s able to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables to prepare her daughter’s baby food with. On December 6th, 2022, Gena shares

“Thanks for my haul today. Made applesauce for the baby and now roasted the squash, boiled the sweet potatoes and carrots to make baby food for the upcoming week.” Gena’s daughter is featured in the image.

Want to save money by creating your own baby food? Here are some easy-to-follow instructions and click here to see a list of our mobile food market locations.

Everyone can shop at our mobile food market and each week a selection of food will be available for a minimum, subsidized flat rate of $5. Our cost is $10 and those who can or wish to pay $10 or more can do so to support those who are living on a low income. The type and amount of food available at each pick-up will vary but there will be a minimum of 5 varieties of produce with 4 servings of each offered each week.

Thank you, Gena, for sharing your story. We hope you’ve inspired others to find affordable ways to create fresh baby food for their little ones.

Jailynn enjoys cooking with fresh vegetables from the Cambridge Food Bank Mobile Food Market

The Cambridge Food Bank’s Mobile Food Market is our fresh produce market on wheels.  The goal is to increase access to fresh local food at an affordable cost.  The Mobile Food Market makes it easier for people to get the healthy food they need, and everyone is welcome.

Each week a selection of food is available for a flat rate of $5. Those who can or wish to pay more can do so in order to support those who are living on a low income.

👌 Subsidized $5

💵 Our cost $10

❤️ Pay it forward $20

Donations over $5 help keep the Market affordable for everyone

The type and amount of food available at each pick-up will vary but there will be a minimum of 4 varieties of produce with 4 servings of each offered each week.  Did you know? In the last year, the Cambridge Food Bank invested $74,800 in food from local farmers which enabled the program to serve 7,983 customers.

This month Jailynn and her mother Leah visited our Mobile Food Market (MFM) set up at the Knox United Church in Ayr.  The MFM offered Cabbage, beets, carrots, onion, apples, watermelon, and bananas!  Quite the assortment and the perfect match for Patrick, our Mobile Food Market Coordinator’s Apple and Root Vegetable Coleslaw family recipe.

Jailynn and Lean were up to the task to create this family recipe and shared with us their wonderful experience!

Leah says “My family did have a chance to make the apple and root vegetable coleslaw and it was really good. My daughter had a blast putting everything in the bowl and especially shaking up the dressing. I’ve attached a few pictures.

From Leah Frey, and daughter Jailynn Lauzon”

Not only is this a fun activity for Jailynn to do with her mother but it is also very educational. People need balanced and proper nutrition at every age.  When a child learns about nutrition, it sets a foundation for future eating and food preparation habits that they will benefit from as they grow up. 

When we think about what learning about nutrition is like for a child, we can probably agree it is no easy task.  Instead, we should consider making learning about nutritious food fun! According to Cognisprings, parents can work with categories to help their children make associations with healthy and non-healthy food options. For example, parents and their children can create a “rainbow” chart and try to check off each color daily to represent eating a balance of fruit and vegetables:

  • Red apple
  • Orange carrot
  • Yellow banana
  • Green celery
  • Blue blueberries
  • Purple eggplant

We encourage you to bring your bag(s) and check out our next mobile food market and you’re welcomed and encouraged to bring your friends, family, and kiddos too!