Stories from the Field: River Street Education

River Street Market in Downtown Petersburg, VA

In Petersburg, Virginia, where access to fresh food is limited and health outcomes are among the poorest in the state, River Street Education (RSE) is making a big impact with a small but mighty team.

River Street Market (RSM) launched in 2017 as a grassroots effort by local businesses to create a downtown marketplace for farmers and vendors, with a focus on improving food access.

Market Manager Cheryl Bursch, a Petersburg native, joined their team early on, driven by her passion for local food and farm support. To expand this work, the team formed the nonprofit River Street Education (RSE), which allowed them to deepen their impact in the community. From the start, RSM accepted SNAP benefits, and soon after RSE was founded, began offering Virginia Fresh Match nutrition incentives to double the value of SNAP on fruits and vegetables.

RSE’s work has been defined by a strong commitment to food access and local partnerships. By 2018, with support from a CDC grant, they launched the POP Mobile Market to bring fresh produce into underserved neighborhoods across Petersburg. In 2020, in response to rising food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic, the team expanded to include a full-time mobile market manager, Amy Wilson, who operated the market daily.

A year later, the team had another big idea: put a market inside the Petersburg Public Library. The library was already a central gathering place for community members of all backgrounds, and it became the perfect setting to get fresh food to more people more often. The Market at PPL launched in 2022 and quickly became a staple for residents. “I was running the POP Mobile Market, the Market at PPL, coordinating across dozens of farmers, and driving around the region to farms, purchasing local produce to bring to the Petersburg community each week," shared Wilson.

The Market at PPL now serves as a vital connection point between farmers and the community, and is particularly meaningful for families who can’t make the Saturday farmers market, but still want access to fresh, local food. RSE sources directly from small and mid-size farms and helps producers connect with buyers like 4P Foods, creating long-lasting market relationships. A grant-funded cooler at the library serves as a food hub, where customers can place online orders for pickup or shop in the market.

These efforts go beyond just selling produce. Local health clinics now refer patients to the market for fresh food bags, which are often accompanied by food demos and health screenings, and the LFPA program has allowed them to purchase and work with local food pantries to distribute produce for free in addition to their sales.

The behind-the-scenes work isn’t easy. With limited cooler space and fluctuating funding, the RSE team adapts weekly. They rely on strong relationships with farmers, partners, and customers to keep things moving.

“Local, healthy food is hard work”, shared Cheryl. “It's consistency, compassion, and accessibility. We want the community to know that we're here for the long haul.”

River Street Education continues to fill the gap between what’s available and what’s needed, to  build a more just and connected food system and make a difference for Petersburg families.

The Market at PPL features locally grown produce, foods, and healthy snack options