Black Mountain’s Bounty & Soul to Introduce New Farmers Market Truck This Summer
Bounty & Soul to introduce new farmers market truck this summer
Bounty & Soul will introduce a new way to bring fresh food to communities this summer. The new concept will be a mobile farmers market truck, designed and built by The Farmers’ Truck, a Canadian company that specializes in the model. The idea for the nonprofit is to bring healthy, locally grown food to the community in a place-based model.
The truck is set up to store and distribute fresh produce and comes equipped with refrigeration. It will support the Farmers Alliance program, allowing for most of the food distributed on the truck to be grown locally and regionally. Three main pillars behind the concept of the truck include fresh and healthy food access, supporting the local food system, and being community-centric.
Vision Coming to Life
When Casparian started Bounty & Soul in 2014, she envisioned having a truck like this one. The Farmers’ Truck was developed in Canada around the same time, providing the solution to how Bounty & Soul can continue to serve Black Mountain and the Swannanoa Valley while meeting people where they are.
Grants secured from The Glass Foundation and the Golden LEAF Foundation will fund the purchase of the truck, along with a spring campaign starting the first week of May to accept donations for the initiative.
Transition to Serve Better
The introduction of the farmers market truck will lead to a transition from two weekly markets in the old Bi-Lo parking lot on Tuesdays and Fridays to one market on Thursdays starting on May 16.
This marks a return to Bounty & Soul’s roots as they started by meeting communities where they are. The nonprofit shifted its model during the pandemic and will continue to serve the Swannanoa Valley while expanding to other communities.
Addressing Food Insecurity
“We’re not going anywhere,” said Casparian, noting the increase in participants and the ongoing need for food assistance. The new farmers market truck is expected to aid in helping more people amidst rising food insecurity rates.
