Delta Harvest Neighborhood Market aims to support farmers and Jackson shoppers
By Simeon Gates | Originally published by Mississippi Today
The goal of the newly opened Delta Harvest Neighborhood Market is to support Mississippi farmers and Jackson shoppers with fresh, locally-grown foods.
The market opened Thursday at the Jackson Medical Mall. It will be open 2 p.m.-7 p.m. every Thursday at the same location.
Shoppers lined up on the first day to purchase vegetables, meat, eggs, meal kits and more. Many customers left with their food in reusable bags bearing the market’s logo. The farmers themselves and volunteers helped customers shop and check out.
The market was created by a partnership among several community organizations, including the Itta Bena Economic & Cultural Alliance, the Jackson District Missionary Baptist Association and the Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative.
Tracy Johnson, a consultant with the Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative, organized the market.
“Our goal is to connect farmers to communities that we can provide with healthier foods, but also that we’ll be able to pay the farmers more,” he said.
“The whole thing is about reviving this economy.”
Johnson explained that all of the money spent at the market stays in Mississippi, from the farmers and their helpers to the volunteers at the market who ring up customers.
He said the market is a pilot. If the model is successful, organizers will change the hours and expand into multiple locations. It currently supports five farmers, all from the Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative farmer’s cooperative, Southern Black Women in Agriculture.
Organizers hope to support up to 30 farmers.
One of the farmers participating in the initial market was Patricia Porter. She described herself as a “hardworking farmer.” She sold banana peppers at the market, but she also produces peas, okra, tomatoes, cucumbers and more.
She was happy with the turnout.
“It gets you out to other people to know that you’re growing healthy food and good stuff coming out of the garden,” Porter said.
Other members of the co-op were there, as was Myra Bryant, a consultant who works with them.
Fellow farmer and co-op member Nadean Randle also sold food at the market. She spoke passionately about the importance of eating whole foods and how the desire to help others do so led her to becoming a farmer.
“You want to know that you’re eating food, not food-like substances,” she said.
“I say, if it will not rot, it’s not real food. Except for honey.”
Bryant believes organizers can bring in up to 100 farmers from across the state.
“Our number one goal is to feed the families here in Jackson, Mississippi,” she said.
Three customers came with the goal of supporting local farmers and finding high quality food.
Dot Smith, 70, wanted to support farmers from her hometown, Lexington. She bought sweet potatoes and banana peppers.
“It’s always important to support … Black people or growers. And you know, the Delta is one of the finest growing places there is,” she said.
Pamela Hurston, 62, is a Jackson native who bought some mixed greens, which she plans to use in a Sunday meal.
“I know the history of the Delta, and how they’re working hard to … have their own, create their own.” she said.
“So they take a part of their own and bring it here for us to take part in it? I say, yeah. I just wanted to be a part of it.”
Joseph Latham, 26, is a graduate assistant at the Jackson Medical Mall. He didn’t buy anything on Thursday, but plans to return. He’s been meaning to switch to getting his groceries locally.
“I know for sure with it being locally owned, especially Black locally-owned, that I’m definitely going to get my money’s worth,” Latham said.
This article was originally published by Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Source: Original Article
