Thursday, June 10, 2010 -
TOM WILEMON - The Daily News -
Two nonprofit organizations will be seeking government approval Thursday to open farmers markets in Binghampton and South Memphis as part of an effort to make city residents healthier.
St. Andrew AME Church and the Binghampton Development Corp. are on the agenda for the 10 a.m. meeting of the Memphis and Shelby County Land Use Control Board.
The Rev. Kenneth Robinson, the pastor of St. Andrew and the physician who serves at the Shelby County health office, said the farmers market fits with the church’s holistic approach.
If the open-air market receives city approval, it would be open on Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Robinson said the church hopes to start selling fresh fruits and vegetables beginning July 1.
“This is about creating a sustainable healthy community in South Memphis,” Robinson said.
The farmers market was launched as the result of a community participatory process working with the Memphis Regional Design Center and the University of Memphis. Almost 1,000 South Memphis residents took part.
“One of the things they mentioned was that there was a paucity of access to fresh fruits and vegetables,” he said. “One of the very simple things they desired in their community was to have proximal access and availability to fresh produce. From my perspective as a public health physician and understanding where there are food deserts in urban communities and with St. Andrew’s presence and development in South Memphis, this was a natural fit for us to donate one of our properties for this inaugural season.”
The location is at the northeast corner of Mississippi Boulevard and South Parkway East.
The other farmers market is proposed for the southwest corner of Broad Avenue and Tillman Street in the Binghampton neighborhood.
This farmers market is part of a broader initiative by the Binghampton Development Corp. and Christ Community Health Services that includes a commercial-scale urban garden.
“We picked squash yesterday,” said Robert Montague, the executive director of the Binghampton Development Corp. “It was our first harvest.”
The site for this farmer’s market is a former convenience store visible from Sam Cooper Boulevard.
“The Jack Pirtle family has been generous enough to give us access to that property,” said Montague.
If the city grants approval for the market, it will open at a later date than the South Memphis market.
“We don’t have a firm date, but we hope this summer to have an opening,” Montague said.
