Residents in a number of Lexington neighborhoods now have a new option in finding nutritious food for their families. This assortment of healthy foods comes on wheels.
The Mobile Market is being characterized as a rolling food oasis. It will visit areas in Lexington without a nearby grocery. Mayor Linda Gorton said it took a great deal of effort to reach this point.
“This has been two years in the making and it has been a long labor of love,” said Gorton.
Gorton said the City paid for the truck and trailer, Kroger stocked the shelves, and God’s Pantry Food Bank is the operator. The mayor thanked Tiffany Brown, the City’s Equity and Implementation Officer for working out hundreds of details.
“Whether we realize it or not food is medicine and our health outcomes are determined by our medicine and if food is medicine then everyone deserves the right to nutritious food,” said Brown.
The Mobile Market will make about 60 stops a month, Tuesday through Saturday. And Brown said residents in food desert communities often find fast food their primary option.
“What we’re doing now is we have foods that are relevant to folks culture, allowing them the opportunity to prepare them in a culturally relevant way for them for their families,” said Brown.
The 60-foot trailer houses a single aisle stocked with a selection of fresh fruits, vegetables, milk, chicken, beef, pork, deli meat, cheese, yogurt, and a limited amount of household products
The scaled-down grocery on wheels will operate on a cashless system, no cash accepted or stored within the trailer. Customers will pay by debit card, credit card, or SNAP-EBT.
* WEKU is working hard to be a leading source for public service, fact-based journalism. Monthly sustaining donors are the top source of funding for this growing nonprofit news organization. Please join others in your community who support WEKU by making your donation
