By Gina Yarbrough
San Diego, CA–Navore Market has expanded its countywide aggregation hub program with the launch of a new community pickup location at the Mission Valley YMCA.
The new hub, located at 5505 Friars Road, opened July 12 and will operate Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. It is Navore Market’s second centralized community pickup location since the company launched its aggregation hub program in La Jolla earlier this year.
The Mission Valley location is designed to make fresh, locally grown food more accessible to residents and community organizations, including YMCA members and non-members.
The initiative is supported by funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Local Food Promotion Program, which seeks to strengthen local and regional food systems by supporting projects that develop, coordinate and expand local food businesses.
“Partnering with the YMCA to bring this hub to Mission Valley is a milestone for Navore and for San Diego’s local food community,” said Caroline Driehaus, founder and CEO of Navore Market. “With USDA support, we’re making it easier than ever for San Diegans to access fresh, locally grown food in their neighborhood while creating real opportunities for the farmers and producers who grow it here locally.”
Aggregation hubs allow local farmers and producers to expand their customer pickup options by delivering orders to a centralized location where customers can conveniently collect their purchases.
As part of the Mission Valley launch, Navore Market is donating 300 locally grown oranges each week to support the Mission Valley YMCA’s summer youth camps. The donations provide fresh produce to children participating in the camps while supporting the YMCA’s mission of promoting healthy minds, bodies and spirits.
“Healthy communities are built through strong partnerships,” said Rob Sauvajot, regional executive director of the Mission Valley YMCA. “By bringing locally grown food to the Mission Valley YMCA and donating fresh oranges each week to our summer camp participants, Navore Market is investing in the health of children, supporting local farmers and making nutritious food more accessible for everyone.”
Navore Market is a San Diego-based online platform backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that connects local farmers and producers directly with consumers. The company aims to support a more sustainable, community-rooted regional food system.
Customers can place orders through NavoreMarket.com by searching the map for Mission Valley YMCA (Navore Aggregation Hub) and selecting products from participating producers available at the pickup location.
