Director
David N. Roach
David Roach co-founded the Familyhood Connection in 1994 to address the lack of fresh food in urban communities and the rapid decline of African American farmers throughout the United States.
In 1996, the Familyhood Connection hosted the Mo’ Better Food Conference with the goal of answering the question: Who will supply Mo’ Better food in the African American community?
From the conference and the input of participants, The Familyhood Connection was able to find a few African American farmers in California to sell their produce at the Mo’ Better Food Market at McClymonds High School where Mr. Roach was the Director of the Business Academy.
At McClymonds High School, Mr. Roach was able to create a school -based enterprise which consisted of students, marketing, and selling produce grown by the African American farmers of California. After a few years of hosting the market at McClymonds High School, Mr. Roach became the co-director of the West Oakland Food Collaborative, which brought together several organizations to overcome food insecurity in West Oakland.
The Mo’ Better Food Market was renamed to The Mandela Farmers Market (to address the move from McClymonds High School to Mandela Parkway (near the BART station).
In 2006, the market returned back to its original name, Mo' Better Food to bring more emphasis to a national movement of farmers market that feature food grown by African American farmers.
Mr. Roach is the president of the S.F. Bay Area Morehouse College Alumni Association and is an active participant on several boards, and steering committees to address food security and community empowerment.
If you are a farmer, register to sell your produce at one of our markets.