Imagine this same car, but instead of selling soft ice, it sells fresh fruits and vegetables. This is an initiative introduced by CDC (Central Detroit Christian), called Peaches & Greens. Alongside thieir produce truck, they run store, close to Hamtramck, that sells food at low prices.
The city of Detroit covers 144 square acres, including a total of 39 grocery stores. At less than a million inhabitants this means that each grocery store serves—or should serve—22,000 people. Nevertheless, 92% of food stamp recipients go to the gas station and/or liquor store to buy their food, which is not the most fresh and nutritious option one can imagine.
With this in mind, Peaches & Greens launched their store in 2008. It took some time to convince the city of it's commercial value, and secure a license for their business (since normal commercial licenses were mostly handed out to people opening a liquor store or strip club).
They immediately replaced the bulletproof glass facing the street, sending a clear message to the neighborhood. Their truck delivers food within a two mile radius of the shop; stopping at senior houses, and selling to the streets. When stock runs out, it can easily return to the shop and take some more produce back on out.
25% of the clientele are kids, coming out for the exotic taste of apples and oranges.
50% of families living in downtown Detroit don't have a car, or any other form of transportation to facilitate the drive to healthy food. Considering this, we rank Peaches & Greens as a modern day Pony Express; only instead of bringing the mail, they bring nutritious foods to 'food desert' downtown.
This Wednesday and Thursday we will be riding with the produce truck hoping to learn some more.
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