Fresh fruits and veggies can be expensive. How a pop-up market aims to fix that

Corbeille de Pain of Montreal holds what is calls 'solidarity markets' each week during the summer season to offer both fresh produce and prepared meals in Montreal.

With fresh fruits and vegetables often beyond the reach of many low-income households, a pop-up market in Montreal’s West Island is trying to fill the gap.

Corbeille de Pain offers a mobile stand that sells grocery items at reduced and affordable rates in three neighbourhoods to help shoppers struggling with food insecurity.

“This one mom with her son who came by and she told me this story about how she hadn’t ate in two days,” Ivana Riveros Orteaga, an employee with the non-profit organization, said in a recent interview.

“And so these are ridiculous stories for me. Like, that should not happen — especially in Montreal where we have the resources.”

Corbeille de Pain holds what is calls “solidarity markets” each week during the summer season to offer both fresh produce and prepared meals. Co-ordinator Jorge Flores said the sticker prices are “better than the supermarket.”

The total bill depends on what people can afford to pay. There are three options: the advertised price, the pay-what-you-can price and the pay-it-forward price. The last option gives consumers a chance to donate more money to help fund the initiative and keep costs low for their fellow citizens.

“There is a lot of people that have low incomes in the household so the idea is to help that with the market,” Flores said.

Robin Hill, a West Island resident, regularly shops at the solidarity markets. She uses a specialized debit card subsidized by the government and charities to help buy the necessities.