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In Washington, DC, access to fresh, nutritious food is not guaranteed—especially in neighborhoods where full-service grocery stores are scarce. Joyful Food Markets (JFM), a signature program of Martha’s Table, is working to change that by bringing free, choice-based produce markets directly into elementary schools across the city. As long-time creative partners to Martha’s Table, Sabra Creative is proud to support this mission by designing the vibrant print and digital materials that help power these community-centered markets every month.
Since launching in 2015, Joyful Food Markets have grown from just 15 schools to more than 50, now serving over 6,000 families each month. These welcoming, no-cost markets are set up inside DC elementary schools, giving families easy access to fresh produce and pantry staples at the very place their children learn and grow.
For many families, this model makes all the difference. DC’s Ward 8 alone has more than 80,000 residents but only one full-service grocery store, placing an enormous strain on household food access. According to the Capital Area Food Bank’s Hunger Report 2025, 37% of regional households face meal uncertainty, a number that continues to rise.
Joyful Food Markets give families reliable access to high-quality ingredients—empowering parents to make healthy choices without worrying about cost, transportation, or availability.
As Katherine Donnelly, Community Health Nutritionist at Martha’s Table, shares:
“For families building healthy habits early, children develop a taste for fresh produce that lasts a lifetime.”
Every market visit is a chance to build those habits.
Each month’s market features a unique menu of seasonal produce and pantry items. Sabra Creative works closely with the JFM team to design the materials that help families navigate, learn, and get excited about what’s available.
Each market highlights one produce item—such as sweet potatoes, apples, zucchini, or kale—and families can grab a beautifully designed recipe card showing how to turn that ingredient into an easy, nutritious dish at home. These cards are intentionally simple, kid-friendly, and visually fun to encourage families to try something new.
For every item featured at the market, we design an engaging produce flyer that includes:
Interesting facts (e.g., health benefits, how to store it, cooking tips)
These flyers turn the market into a hands-on learning opportunity—helping children and adults feel more connected to fresh foods.
To help spread the word ahead of time, Joyful Food Markets uses a combination of printed flyers and social media graphics tailored for each school community.
Each month, Sabra Creative designs:
These tools make it easy for schools to keep families informed and excited, while ensuring parents know exactly when the market is happening and what fresh items will be available.
Beyond monthly materials, we’ve also created reusable, sturdy signage—A-frame posters and roll-up banners—that schools can place at entrances, hallways, or outdoor pickup areas. These pieces make the markets instantly recognizable and reinforce the joyful, welcoming JFM brand.
Over the past several months, economic pressures have forced many families to choose between paying bills and buying fresh, healthy food. Visits to JFM’s markets have climbed 47% just since January, reflecting both the rising need and the trust families place in these programs.
In 2025 alone, Martha’s Table distributed over 2.2 million meals—a 49.7% increase in just two years. Joyful Food Markets are a key part of that impact.
Because the markets are choice-based, families select the items that fit their preferences and household needs—ensuring that the food they bring home is food they want and know how to use.
As a Sabra Creative Concierge Client, Joyful Food Markets relies on our team to create clear, accessible, visually uplifting materials that help families feel confident and welcome at every market. We’ve worked alongside their staff for over seven years, and the growth of the Joyful Food Markets program continues to inspire us.
The educational materials we design aren’t just informational—they help increase food knowledge, encourage children to try new produce, and reduce barriers to healthy eating. Each recipe card, flyer, and market sign plays a small role in supporting a stronger, healthier DC.
Joyful Food Markets prove that when communities come together—schools, families, local partners, and organizations like Martha’s Table—we move closer to a future where nutritious food is accessible to all.
Sabra Creative is honored to support this mission by designing the materials that bring each market to life.
Learn more about the program—and how you can help fuel healthy food access across DC.
