Winter Fresh Produce Pickups
Pick up FREE fresh fruit and vegetables
for your family by driving up in your car
PARKING RAMP
407 Bates Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55106
Events will be held at 1 – 2:30 p.m.
November 19, 2021 • December 17, 2021
January 21, 2022 cancelled due to cold temperatures
February 18, 2022 • March 18, 2022
April 15, 2022 • May 20, 2022
For more information on Winter Fresh Produce Pickups:
www.facebook.com/neighborhoodhouseMN or call 651-789-3602 (Neighborhood House Service Connect)
How to Drive to the Metro State Fresh Produce Pickup
If you are driving to a Fresh Produce Pickup, you must line up in the designated Drive-Up Line on the street listed below. You will not be allowed into the distribution unless you follow the traffic procedures at the site.
The car waiting area will be in the parking ramp off of Bates Ave.
YOU CAN ONLY ENTER FROM BATES AVENUE!
• Cars can line up at 12:30 PM- you cannot wait earlier than 12:30 PM!
• All cars must wait in the Metro State Parking Ramp. You will not be able to get produce by
waiting in any other location.
• From 1-2:30 PM, you will be directed by a traffic monitor to drive up from the car waiting
area and receive produce
• The distribution is first come first serve- the order of cars in the car waiting area will
determine the order everyone receives produce
YOU CAN: Enter the parking ramp from Bates Ave!
DO NOT: Enter from Maria Avenue—you will have to enter from Bates Avenue
Are Fresh Produce Pickups safe during COVID-19?
Fresh Produce Pickups are designed to keep people safe while also providing produce to the community during COVID-19. Using a curbside pickup model, you can stay in your car and receive produce to make sure you don’t have contact with others. If you are walking up, we will have everyone spaced 6 feet apart to make sure people can be safe.
Please wear a mask if you have one!
What can I expect to receive at a Fresh Produce Pickup?
You can expect 15-25 pounds of fresh produce!
You will get a variety of bulk produce that changes every distribution. We unfortunately won’t be able to confirm what produce you’ll receive until the day of the event.
How many times can I go to a Fresh Produce Pickup?
You can go to as many Fresh Produce Distributions as you want!
You are welcome to come to every distribution!
What time should I come to a Fresh Produce Pickup?
We ask that you not come earlier than 30 minutes before the event time. If you arrive earlier than 30 minutes before, you will not be able to line up and reserve your spot early- we will ask you to wait somewhere else. This helps us manage lines and make sure that people do not have to wait a long time to receive produce.
What do I need to bring?
You do not need to bring anything to receive produce!
If you are walking, bring your own carts and bags if you have them.
How do I sign up or register for Fresh Produce Pickups?
We will be doing registration at the event from your car or in-person.
We DO NOT ask for any identifying information (name, birthdate, address). We ask the following information that is anonymous:
1. Zip code
2. Number of people in the household (children, adults, and seniors)
3. If you use our food shelf/ if you have attended a Fresh Produce Distribution in the past
We use this information to know how many total people we served at each event.
How do I get to a Winter Fresh Produce Pickup?
You must drive to a Fresh Produce Pickup location.
Winter FRESH PRODUCE PICKUPS – Registration open now!
During the COVID-19 outbreak we are offering Fresh Produce Pickups, a drive-thru produce distribution where families can pick up fresh fruit and vegetables by driving up in their cars to Metropolitan State University’s Parking Ramp. Volunteers will sort and bag produce to prepare for the distribution, assist in distributing produce during the distribution, help clean up after the event ends and assist with traffic control to make sure the event runs smoothly.
If you’re interested in a volunteer opportunity, CLICK HERE to learn more and register.
Have more questions? Email Shane Springer or Florence Wee
If you would like to volunteer for Fresh Produce Pickups, CLICK HERE!
Still have questions? Please contact Florence Wee, Fresh Produce Distribution Coordinator, at email Florence
If you would like more info about being a sponsor and providing the produce we distribute, please email Sarah Berger.