LIFE

Fresh market bus brings fresh local produce to you

Madeline Zukowski
USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Rick Slager stands outside of a white school bus parked by the entrance of the Fond du Lac YMCA every Thursday evening, greeting customers, inviting them on the bus and encouraging them to “holler” if they have questions.

Rick Slager takes his fresh market bus to the Fond du Lac YMCA every Thursday evening.

Rick and his wife, Dawn, own Produce with a Purpose farm, located five miles east of Fond du Lac. Rick sells part of what they harvest on the fresh market bus, a white school bus that’s loaded with fresh produce.

The fresh market bus not only makes eight stops throughout the week in the Fond du Lac area, it also stops in Oshkosh on Tuesdays, Milwaukee on Wednesday nights and at the Oshkosh, Appleton, Fond du Lac and West Bend farmers markets on rotating Saturdays.

In January 2014, the Slagers started a campaign on Kickstarter, a website that allows people to raise money for independent projects, and raised more than $6,000 to purchase the bus. Last summer, Rick’s cousin pitcher in with her artistic talent and painted the bus.

From there, Rick reached out to several YMCAs and institutions like Agnesian HealthCare to ask to park the bus there. Almost immediately, word about the bus spread. Local business asked the bus to come and stop at their workplace so employees could buy fresh produce. It helped businesses boost their wellness efforts.

“Wellness is a buzzword right now,” Rick said.

Rick Slager takes the fresh market bus to the Fond du Lac YMCA every Thursday evening.

Currently, if a business wants the bus to visit, it has to be put on a waiting list for openings. As of now, the bus has a full schedule.

Rick explained that the goal of the fresh market bus is to make local, fresh produce available and convenient for all people. For example, people can stop by the fresh market bus after working out at the YMCA on Thursday nights.

Eventually, Rick hopes to provide what’s on the bus to people in all socio-economic situations.

“We have visions of pulling into lower-economic status areas, but we want to be invited into those areas,” he said.

Because the bus only contains fresh produce, the cost of the items might be sold at a higher price than what they are sold for at places like Pick ‘n Save or Walmart.

“Our cucumbers cost $1 each, while at Walmart they’re probably sold for about 50 cents,” Rick said. “But the cucumbers we’re selling were picked a day ago. And, I’m a part of your community, so that $1 you spent will probably be regenerated back into the community.”

Rick said that the prices of their produce are set so that their business remains sustainable.

Eating in season

Billy, Lani and Keriann Krug pick out fresh produce Thursday, in front of the YMCA, on Rick Slagger's fresh market bus.

Although most farmers markets sell similar fresh produce during the spring and summer months, the fresh market bus sells products indoors during the winter months. Rick said the fresh market bus is out and about for 51 weeks of the year.

“For nine to 10 months of the year, we sell at least some fresh produce,” Rick said. “January and February are slower-type months.”

Although the winter months are harder, the Slagers keep products from the summer growing season in storage. In addition, produce that comes from roots, like carrots, beets and turnips, still grow during the winter months.

“It’s all about eating in season,” Rick said. “You don’t need a cucumber in January.”

Rick explains that shipping food more 1,000 miles when it’s not in season is part of what he believes is a broken food system.

“We believe that a lot of the health issues in our country are from bad food and bad eating habits,” Rick said. “…Processed foods are not something to be proud of.”

In addition, Rick is motivated because of the lack of education most receive about where food comes from. He explained that he had a group of children out to the farm a couple of weeks ago, and he dug up a potato plant to show them how potatoes grow.

“Most kids don’t know potatoes grow in the ground,” he said.

In terms of fixing these problems, Rick said society has a long way to go. It’ll take some time, but he is doing his part with the fresh market bus.

“It’s exciting to be a part of,” he said. “It’s exciting to see people get excited about it.”

Working with others

Carla Hilbert, of Fond du Lac, purchases fresh produce from Rick Slager on Thursday, while he had his fresh market bus parked in front of the YMCA.

Produce with a Purpose farm is a Community Supported Agriculture business. The mission of CSAs is to connect consumers and farmers. Families and individuals pledge to support a farm organization by working on the farm and paying for costs. In return, they receive a portion of the share.

When Dawn Slager isn’t teaching second grade at Parkside Elementary, she helps out on the farm. She says those that have pledged to support the farm are so dedicated to giving people local and fresh produce. They often work hard for long hours on the farm to receive their share.

“We’re very thankful for their help,” she said.

Not only do the Slagers work with local members of the community, but they also work with small farmers in West Africa. They help provide money for seeds and share what knowledge they have with them. The small farmers have helped them learn different techniques too.

“It’s a mutual learning experience,” Rick said.

Rick considers himself lucky to be working on the farm and on the fresh market bus. His father was a farmer as well.

“This is kind of living the dream,” he said. “My dad always said when you grow, you gotta grow for everyone.”

For a full schedule of the fresh market bus stops, visit www.producewithpurpose.com.

Reach Madeline Zukowski at 920-907-7968 or mzukowski@gannett.com.

Carla Hilbert, of Fond du Lac, waits to purchase fresh produce from Rick Slager, while he had his fresh market bus parked in front of the YMCA.