Short answer: The partner matters more than the parking lot. Look for hosts whose mission matches yours, check the spot at the real day and time, pitch in one minute, then put it in writing with a start date, an end date and at least 30 days notice.
Three kinds of host sites
Community stops. Places people already go, like a gas station, dollar store or church. They rarely sell produce, so you complement them.
Partner sites. Senior buildings, clinics, schools and housing sites that share your mission. An hour can be enough.
Sponsored stops. Workplaces that pay for an employee wellness market. They help fund your other stops.
Check the spot
Visit on the day and at the time you plan to run.
Can people see you from the road? Is traffic slow enough to pull in?
Can people walk or take the bus there?
Is the truck on the right side of the street?
Are bathrooms nearby? Put access in the agreement, and promise to leave the site clean.
From the road: We found what looked like the perfect stop: a youth center in a high need area, slow traffic and supportive pastors. But an 8 foot black fence hid the truck unless you already knew we were there. It also made the market feel closed off. Signs did not fix it. It was our worst stop and we left before the season ended.
Make the ask
Call first if you know someone there. Cold call before you email. Ask for a meeting.
Find the decision maker. Leave a one page sheet with a photo of the truck.
Pitch in one minute: your mission, who you serve, why you are a good partner, what is in it for them and your ask.
Adjust for the audience. Businesses want foot traffic. Governments want a community service. Property owners want the lot left better than you found it.
Follow up.
Put it in writing
Give the host a certificate of liability insurance that names them as additionally insured.
Sign a host agreement with a start date, an end date and what each side commits to.
Ask for a one year term and at least 30 days notice to end it.
From the road: A health clinic in our local mall asked us to park by its entrance, near a bus stop. The staff promoted us to patients and it became one of our busiest stops. Then the mall changed hands and the new owner asked us to leave. Our signed agreement gave us 30 days. We used them to tell customers and to knock on the door of a church at the edge of the lot. The pastor said yes on the spot. The clinic kept promoting us and most customers barely noticed the move.
Build a wider network
Your local food policy council knows the right government contacts. Agencies that serve seniors and families can become partners and funders. Good hosts become your loudest ambassadors.
With the Farmers' Truck Map: Add each confirmed host as a stop with its schedule. Share the stop link with the host so they can promote you to their people.
