Toms Creek Family Farms opening mobile market in local food deserts

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — Quick access to a grocery store is not as easy for folks who live in a food desert — particularly here in the 29203 and 29204 zip codes.

But a new mobile market opening on March 4th is looking to help change that.

In a joint effort between leaders with the City of Columbia and Toms Creek Family Farms, the new mobile market — dubbed a grocery store on wheels — will bring fresh food to three different communities.

Co-owners of Toms Creek Family Farms Larry Schneeberger, and his Dad, Neshet, as well as city officials Shana Catoe and Ayesha Driggers, say the collaboration was years in the making.

Fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy, and canned goods will be available for purchase — as well an assortment of meats.

“We do the fresh meats from the farm. We do Black Angus Wagyu, we do pork, we do lamb, we do chicken. We bake fresh breads from the Farmers Market Exchange,” says Schneeberger.

The market will be available three days out of the week — for now, says Driggers, with the City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities.

“On Mondays the market will be at Hyatt Park, which is where we are today for the press conference, and on Tuesdays it will be at Greenview Park, and on Thursdays it will be at Edgewood Library from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. And that’s our initial target is the 29203 and 29204 zip code, but we hope to expand eventually,” says Driggers.

It’s reported that the 29203 zip code has the highest rate of diabetic amputations in not only the state — but the nation.

I spoke with community member Bob Petrulis about the new mobile market.

“One of the issues that contributes to that is the lack of access to fresh food. So this is a great step in the right direction, and I’m really thrilled with the city for doing this,” he says.

Catoe, with the City of Columbia’s Food Policy Committee, says the grocery stores just aren’t here — and more had to be done.

“And they’re not coming, and so in order to combat food insecurity, what better way than to bring the market to the people. So that’s really the premise behind this, we saw grocery stores closing, so what can we do to get people food in their neighborhoods,” she says.

The mobile market will accept most all forms of payment including cash, cards, SNAP, healthy bucks, and senior farmers market vouchers.