Flint Fresh Breaks Ground on New Aggregation Center

Flint, Mich. – Flint Fresh Mobile Market will have a permanent base of operations when a new aggregation center opens in May 2018. Construction crews are working to transform an old building on Court Street near Averill Avenue into a climate-controlled food hub warehouse. The 26,000 square foot facility will provide a pathway for groups of local producers to generate the volume required to cost-effectively sell to larger purchasers.
“We’re an important link for local farmers,” said Pam Bailey president of the board of directors for the nonprofit whose mission is to bring sustainable access to healthy food to the Flint community.
“One farmer working alone may not have the capacity to produce large volumes, but a group of producers coming together through the food hub could meet the demand for larger retail stores that want to purchase locally grown produce,” explained Bailey.
The food hub will serve the needs of grocery and convenience stores, restaurants and institutional food purchases like schools, hospitals and senior care facilities who will be able to conveniently source and order high quality, locally grown produce, meats and dairy products for the customers they serve.
Flint Fresh Mobile Market has been operating since last fall and serves the needs of the community by offering a means for residents to access healthy foods in underserved neighborhoods. The organization offers a veggie box distribution service and hosts mobile markets throughout the city. Bailey said the community’s response has been overwhelming.
“We deliver fifty to eighty boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables per week. Our clients include seniors who don’t have transportation, stay-at-home moms, and generally busy people who simply don’t have time to go out and shop but who want fresh fruits and vegetables.”
Funding to support the organization’s mission comes from local foundations and the Michigan Department of Education.
F“We can’t thank them enough for their support,” said Bailey. “It’s been well-proven that people want fresh fruits and vegetables. The people of Flint deserve fresh fruits and vegetables,” she said.