TEMPE, AZ — Apples, potatoes, carrots on a bus. This new procuring idea to assist residents in Tempe get higher entry to contemporary fruit and veggies, following the 2021 closure of the Meals Metropolis on Apache Boulevard.
Grocery looking for Phil Amorosi might look a little bit totally different than his standard routine.
He says, “I’m the chair of the neighborhood affiliation throughout the road. After I came upon that Meals Metropolis was closing, I spotted that so many individuals right here simply have bicycles, they don’t have vehicles. They want a detailed by procuring heart.”
After Meals Metropolis closed, Amarosi contacted Tempe Mayor Corey Woods, fearing they’d be in a meals desert.
Mayor Woods heard Amarosi and different residents on Apache Boulevard. The answer is a cell farmers market on wheels referred to as Farm Specific.
Elyse Guidas, Govt Director for Activate Meals Arizona says, “We journey round to communities that don’t have quick access to grocery shops or contemporary produce.”
Mayor Woods attended Tuesday’s occasion in entrance of the previous Meals Metropolis.
“On the finish of final yr, the Metropolis of Tempe bought the middle we’re standing at proper now for $10.6 million,” says Woods.
“We discovered in late September of 2021, that the Meals Metropolis was going to be closing. And most of the residents within the space on the North and South aspect of Apache Boulevard, a few of our lengthy standing neighborhoods and a few of the of us who’ve simply moved in not too long ago talked about their concern about dwelling in a meals desert with out the presence of a grocery retailer.”
Each different Tuesday from 2:30 p.m. to three:30 p.m., regionally sourced, accessible fruit and veggies are provided at price.
“Those that use SNAP Advantages, now we have a program referred to as double up meals bucks for each greenback that they spend on the bus, they get one other greenback to redeem on further fruit and veggies,” Guidas says.
Amarosi is happy his metropolis stepped up for this short-term aide.
“Not less than town is coming ahead and doing one thing,” Amarosi stated.
Wanting forward, Mayor Woods tells ABC15 there are plans within the works to construct a brand new grocery retailer and 300 models of reasonably priced housing.
