The Northern Community Food Security Team is partnering with Ripe for Revival to offer a monthly mobile grocery store on the second Thursday of each month from 3-5 p.m. across from the Northern Regional Center, 350 E. Holding Ave. Offering fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy from local and regional farmers on a pay-what-you-can scale, the Ripe for Revival Mobile Market will make its inaugural debut Thursday, Sept. 14.
Ripe for Revival utilizes its network of farmer and food industry relationships to narrow the gap between farm excess and food access. The company purchases “retired” city or school buses, renovates them to include refrigerators and freezers, and transforms them into Mobile Markets that can drive into communities impacted by food insecurity.
The brainchild of Will Kornegay, Ripe for Revival’s pay-what-you-can Mobile Markets aim to make fresh and local produce, proteins, dairy, eggs, and other food products accessible and affordable to all, regardless of their budget. When shopping, there are some limits on the amount of protein, dairy and eggs a consumer can purchase, but no limits on produce. Shoppers can pay any portion of the suggested total at the checkout. Both cash and card payments are accepted.
According to Kornegay, suggested prices for the food featured on the Mobile Markets are subsidized by donations and community partners, and average about 25 percent less than retail grocery store retail prices.
Founded by the Town of Wake Forest in 2018, the NCFST is a consortium of local organizations whose mission is to ensure food security in northern Wake County.
Charged with enlisting community members, food security organizations, resource experts, and other stakeholders to develop activities, policies, and partnerships that move the county towards food security and a sustainable food future, the NCFST now counts more than a dozen food pantries, faith-based organizations, businesses, and concerned citizens among its’ members, while also enjoying support from the Town of Wake Forest and Wake County. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/WF_NCFST or email Community Outreach Manager Andrew Brown, Jr. at abrown@wakeforestnc.gov.
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