A.G. Gancarski
Among Jacksonville’s many disparities that cut across barriers of race, class, and geography is the problem of food deserts. On Friday, Groundwork Jacksonville will announce a potential remedy on Jacksonville’s Eastside.
The press release notes that in “the 2012 Quality of Life Plan developed by Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), the Eastside community shared a vision for improved nutrition and closer proximity to healthy foods, farmer’s markets, community gardens, grocery stores and other essential services.”
With that in mind, help is on the way in September: the “Jacksonville Public Market, connecting food, culture, people and neighborhoods.”
The “Jacksonville Public Market will bring family and nutritional programs, live entertainment, chef demonstrations, master gardener consultations, headline speakers, and youth entrepreneurial activities to the Eastside,” the release continues, describing the market as a “community-designed, small business incubator that leverages empty green space, an existing retail corridor and the vision of the neighborhood residents,” one that “will enhance one of Jacksonville’s most historic neighborhoods, close the gap in health disparities, produce and distribute locally grown neighborhood food, and create a large footprint of positivity and economic prosperity.”
The press conference, offering more details at 10 a.m Friday, will be held in Parking Lot Y at the Northeast corner of A. Philip Randolph Boulevard and Albert Street.
