Produce in the Desert

Today was an awesome day.  The work of community partners and community members culminated in a test drive of what we hope will be a regular mobile farmer's market in an area that is deemed a food desert. It is explained well in a news article that was published in the local paper (which I have spent the last hour trying to access on line and cannot).  The persons named in the article have worked for almost a year to make this happen.  I am collaborating with them, but contributed very little esp. as the community meetings often take place while I am in class.  
We are seeking grant funding to create a food hub which will include healthy stores and cooking collaborations - yes, I am targeted to lead the recipe sharing, revising piece and thrilled to do it!

The people who attended today were wonderful.  Warm, excited, friendly, hopeful - young and old, men and women, able and disabled.  One of the vendors was especially kind and attentive to the older women - helping them put bags into their walking carts and such.  There were sisters, mothers and daughters and grandmothers too. Men came alone and with their girlfriends or wives.  The pastor of the local church was on hand for some time and even though it was close to 100 degrees, we had a breeze on the hill.  The three local vendors who came said that they were glad that they had and would do it again. 
What a wonderful thing this is :)
Okay - so the really friendly lady also sold homemade ice cream - but it was in small cups:)

Farmer's Market in Warnersville Commuity - Greensboro NC 8-3-2011

The CDC defines a food desert as follows: Food deserts are areas that lack access to affordable fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat milk, and other foods that make up the full range of a healthy diet.