PASSING THE BATON:

NANCY JAMISON, RITA LARA,

AND THE NEXT CHAPTER OF

AFFORDABLE PLANT - BASED

FOOD ACCESS FOR EVERYONE

Nancy Jamison has carried a simple but powerful belief:
Good food should feed people, not go to waste. Fair Foods began in 1988 when Nancy saw a truckload of perfectly good carrots headed for the dump and asked a question that would shape decades of community impact:

Why is this food being thrown away when families need it?

That question became a mission.

With determination, creativity, and the support of countless volunteers and community partners, Nancy built one of Greater Boston’s earliest large-scale produce rescue and affordable food distribution networks — long before “food rescue” became a national movement.

Over the decades, Fair Foods helped distribute millions of pounds of fresh produce through neighborhood-based sites across Greater Boston, creating a model rooted in dignity, affordability, environmental responsibility, and community trust.

Now, as Nancy prepares for retirement and a new chapter of life and creative pursuits, she is working closely with Maverick Landing Community Services (MLCS) to help ensure that the work she built continues and evolves for the next generation.

This transition builds on a relationship formed during the COVID-19 pandemic, when MLCS and Fair Foods worked together to help keep food moving across East Boston and other neighborhoods during a time of extraordinary need.

MLCS FAIRS FOOD IN

GREATER BOSTON

MLCS is managing the Fair Foods network and preserving its 38-year legacy, ensuring that thousands of families and individuals across Greater Boston can access fresh, nutritious food each week. 

Many locations are open to the public, while others serve the direct beneficiaries of participating organizations. Public sites offer bags of fresh fruits, vegetables, and artisan bread for only a few dollars, while participating food pantries may provide produce at no cost. Visit each site’s website, where listed, for current schedules and additional details.

Fair Foods Network — Weekly Route

Fair Foods Network

Weekly Route
Map of Greater Boston including Natick, Stoughton, and Quincy
🚐

Every week, MLCS brings fresh, healthy food to 25+ community locations across Greater Boston.