12/03/2025
To Our Fresh Foods Market Community: A Note from Christopher Watts
75th St Fresh Foods Market began with a simple intention: a few of us purchased water and snacks and stood on neighborhood corners to greet the community—an effort we called Acts of Kindness. Over time, that small beginning grew into weekend evening distributions of recovered salads, sandwiches, and soup from Pret. From there, we expanded into produce distribution, and eventually into the full outdoor Fresh Foods Market we operate today, offering a wide line of free groceries every week. We are deeply grateful to the community for the trust, participation, and support that have allowed the Market to grow into what it is today.
Because the Market is a community-informed operation, we listen closely to what our neighbors tell us. One message came through loud and clear: no one should have to wait forty-five minutes or more just to get groceries. While the groceries are free, the cost in time was becoming far too expensive for families with work schedules, childcare responsibilities, mobility challenges, or other obligations. In response, we have made intentional and thoughtful changes to reduce wait times, discourage line jumping and spot holding, and address the issue of extremely early arrivals.
To reduce long wait times, we implemented a two-line system, with both lines receiving the same items and being served at the same time. This structure has significantly decreased the amount of time families spend waiting. Most community members are now able to arrive, check in, move through the line, shop, and return to their cars within ten to fifteen minutes if they come after the Market begins. This approach has also prevented lines from stretching in front of residential properties, something local homeowners greatly appreciate.
We also needed to address behaviors that were creating frustration and unfairness for many shoppers. In the past, some individuals left chairs and objects on the sidewalk hours before the Market opened, and others were saving spots for people who were not present. In one instance, someone was even caught selling places in line. To maintain fairness, we now move the line regularly so unattended items cannot hold space, issue numbers at unpredictable intervals so people cannot pick up a ticket and leave for hours, and assign staff to monitor the line and ensure integrity throughout the process.
Another major concern was the number of extremely early arrivals, sometimes as early as 6:00 a.m., even though the Market does not begin until noon. To address this, we adopted an A/B system. Community members arriving before 10:30 a.m. are placed in Line A, while those arriving after 10:30 a.m. are placed in Line B. Line B begins shopping earlier—sometimes as early as 11:30 a.m.—and when available, receives a multi-course hot lunch before groceries. Line A begins at the official start time of noon. While these adjustments have been difficult for some who were accustomed to the old system, the new structure has been met with strong support from community members who value fairness, shorter lines, and a smoother experience.
These changes have allowed more families to shop without spending long periods of time waiting, helping us fulfill our mission of serving the community with dignity, respect, and kindness. Our goal is for shoppers to arrive, be greeted, receive any available resources from our partner organizations, and complete their shopping experience in about fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes to take home free groceries to prepare healthy, balanced meals is something everyone can appreciate. We welcome all community members and remain committed to serving you with efficiency, fairness, and care each week.
Kind Regards,
Christopher Watts, Chief Executive Officer
