Oasis Farmers

Market
A food desert solution plan by the Dallas
Farmers Market in cooperation with the
Dallas Independent School District
Presented by Team #3:
Jeffrey Chang, Raphael Delvaux, Joel Gardner, Anna Panasenko, Guillermo Romo

L/O/G/O

Food Desert
According to the USDA, Food deserts
are defined as parts of the country:
Void of fresh fruit, vegetables, and
other whole foods
Usually found in impoverished
areas
Largely due to a lack of grocery
stores, farmers markets, and
healthy food providers

Food Desert Map

Dallas food deserts shown in green and orange

Charles Rice Learning Center shown in red

Target Area: South Dallas

One of the poorest, high crime
neighborhoods in Dallas.
Most residents rely of public
transportation.
Ratio of fast food restaurants to grocery
stores is extremely unbalanced.
Economic growth and investment in the
area is basically nonexistent.

Charles Rice Learning Center

Located in South Dallas near Fair Park, in
the middle of a food desert.
568 students of which 93% are African
American, 6% Hispanic.
89% qualify for free or discounted lunches.
Consistently score above state and
national in academic tests.
Students are motivated and excellence
driven.

Who we are?
Dallas Farmers Market

Oasis Farmers Market

A non-profit organization to bring food access
and education to food deserts in Dallas

Poor nutrition can lead to

Disease
Obesity
Lack of energy
Tooth decay
Depression
Some cancers
Heart and breathing problems

Goals
Remedy the problem of food deserts in
the Dallas area
Educate children and parents of the
benefits of nutrition and advocating
healthier life styles
Give back to the community and donate
excess inventory to homeless shelters

Goals
To help accomplish these goals, we
will work with:

CATCH program and DISD

Local churches
Local high schools
Local homeless shelters

Flyers
Flyers will mainly serve two purposes:

1. Raise awareness
2. Provide education

CATCH Program
Working closely with the schools four
CATCH representatives will help us to:
Raise our profile within the
community
Select our market produce based on
fruits and vegetables that the children
have learned about recently

Staffing and Scheduling

3 Adult volunteers
3 Student volunteers
1 off-duty police officer
Wednesdays from 4:00 to 7:00 pm
Sundays from 3:00 to 6:00 pm

Market Day
Produce selection and delivery from
Dallas Farmers Market
Market setup and takedown at Charles
Rice Learning Center
Student volunteers will work with
adults in one of three supervised roles:
1. Checkout / Accounting / Receipt Writing
2. Vegetable Merchandising
3. Fruit Merchandising

Market Costs
Total Investment
Start-Up Costs
Working Capital

$2,121.00
$10,160.00

Total

$12,281.00

Operating Costs per day

Produce

$500.00

Security

$120.00

Fuel

$10.00

Water

$5.00

Total

$635.00

Projected Revenue and Profit

Revenue

Gross Profit

$730.00

$95.00

Fall Semester

$18,250.00

$2,375.00

Spring Semester

$25,550.00

$3,325.00

$43,800.00

$5,700.00

Daily

Total

Figures based on the following:

Conservative sales goal of
$730
70% Mark-up on Produce

Return on Investment
Financial Return within 3 years
Community Return and Benefit

Healthier kids and families

Fresh, Affordable and Local Produce
Self-sustaining venture
Students gain experience in running a business

Question 1
Are there any permit issues?
1. A farmers market can only be operated 26
days out of a fiscal year. We will be
operating 60 days of the year.
2. Currently a farmers market can have no
more than 50 vendors and only a 10 x10
can be provided for each vendor. We will be
the only vendor and have 2 tents and
possibly more.

Question 2
What is the return on investment for the
Oasis Farmers Market project?
Two months of working capital will create a longterm self-sustaining entity
Potential to spread to multiple communities
Lifting the impoverished South Dallas
communities out of food deserts
Offering discounted fresh foods
Educating families on the importance of balanced
diets

Question 3
What will Oasis do with the leftover
fresh foods?
All volunteers will receive one free bag to
fill and take home
Donate extra food to Food Bank:
Crossroads Community Services at 1822
Young Street, Dallas, Texas 75201 (Food
Distribution).

Question 4
Has this project or a similar one
worked before in a different area?
Chicago, IL
Richmond, CA

Question 5
Why did you choose this school and
neighborhood?
Located in a Food Desert
No grocery stores within 4 miles
Residents rely heavily on public
transportation
Students of the Charles Rice Learning
Center outperform other school averages
at a state and national level in all
academic areas

Thank You!
Together with the Dallas Chamber of
Commerce, Oasis Farmers Market, in
association with the Dallas Farmers Market
and DISD, is launching an initiative to educate
and empower young students in a Dallas food
desert to create a positive change in their lives
and communities by providing fresh, healthy,
and affordable food!
L/O/G/O

Team Oasis Farmers Market