SUMMIT COUNTY — Meals deserts have at occasions plagued communities round Akron and all through Summit County, and attending to the grocery retailer for some residents, like Carrie Burch, might be exhausting.
“Fuel goes up and its tough for lots of people,” mentioned Burch.
Based on Summit County public well being, about 30,000 residents dwell in meals deserts, that are areas with excessive poverty that additionally lack entry to giant grocery shops. Most of these areas are in Akron and southern Barberton.
“Well being is vitamin, and so when you do not have good well being outcomes, it makes it more durable to carry down a job, it makes it more durable to have secure housing or something,” mentioned Akron Mayor Shammas Malik.
The Summit Contemporary cellular market got here up with an concept to assist bridge the hole for many who have the cash to buy groceries however lack the transportation to get there.
“It’s like a grocery retailer on wheels the place we go into areas designated as meals deserts and supply a grocery retailer expertise. We’re offering recent, wholesome and inexpensive groceries,” mentioned Government Director of Summit Contemporary Cell Market, Ebony Yeboah-Amankwah.
The grocery retailer on wheels made its first cease on Saturday at Attain Alternative Middle within the Summit Lake neighborhood.
“I used to be capable of get some orange juice, bananas, cantaloupe and bagels,” mentioned Burch.
The completely different choices shocked Burch.
“I used to be shocked as a result of I used to be pondering it was going to be simply recent fruit and vegetable,” mentioned Burch.
In addition to recent fruit and greens, individuals can purchase ice cream, bread, cereal, produce and a wide range of meals.
“That is designed to enter these neighborhoods, these pockets of areas that do not have these grocery shops to be sure that they’ve that recent meals. And we additionally present coupons for like the primary 25 prospects to assist offset that top grocery value,” mentioned Yeboah-Amankwah.
Summit Contemporary Cell Market will arrange in varied meals desert communities in Summit County each Monday and Saturday with the hopes of including extra days sooner or later.
“We’re working on Monday and Saturday from 11a.m.-1 p.m., and our subsequent development alternative is to develop the variety of days that we’re providing. So, ideally 4 to 5 days per week versus our present startup place of two days per week,” Yeboah-Amankwah mentioned.
Yeboah-Amankwah says they are going to be utilizing the knowledge they collect from their stops locally to find out a day and time for his or her subsequent location.
You possibly can go to the site for extra data on the cellular grocery retailer.
