by Tina Cole-Mullins
Is there a re:Solution in the new year for the community for more access to food? Maybe not an immediately foreseeable one. However, Geri Uihlein, a Director on the Stockbridge DDA, is taking a proactive approach—she is all ears and meeting with people from other communities who have no grocery store to see how they are coping. Uihlein met with the Manchester Chamber of Commerce to see what approaches were being tried. A grassroots effort is underway there with a newly incorporated 501c3 group called Acorn Farmers’ Market and Café and it hopes to open its doors in April, 2020. It will be a neighborhood store selling locally-sourced meat, dairy, produce, baked goods, freshly prepared ready-to-eat foods, and healthy beverages. And yes, coffee, too! All priced by the producers/farmers directly for Manchester customers. Their mission is to model a rural, community-driven market that provides access to fresh food and supports the economic viability of area farmers by promoting education, collaboration, and entrepreneurship. (From their website, http://www.acornfarmersmarketcafe.org/)
Here in Stockbridge, Pastor Deb Smith is heading up a newly-energized “Eat Better” Committee of the Stockbridge Area Wellness Coalition. This group is also researching ideas and options that could help bring more food options to the area, including offering more winter farmer’s markets. Suzi Greenway, a member of the committee and Market Manager for The Open Air Market of Stockbridge, is working with the Presbyterian Church to double the number of their winter markets to give area residents one more option is procuring fresh produce and other locally prepared foods. In addition to their already planned markets on the second Saturdays from January through April (April’s is the first Saturday), OAM is looking into offering items for sale during the 4th Friday Free Community Dinners offered at the Presbyterian Church. These new “Winter Pantry Markets” will take place January 24, February 28, March 27 and April 24, 5:30 – 7 pm, at the Presbyterian Church.
The Eat Better committee welcomes those interested in this issue to come to their next meeting on January 16th at 4pm in room 108 of the Stockbridge Activity Center.
