Prosperity Gardens Going Mobile

One community garden is getting the wheels turning on a mobile produce market. Prosperity Gardens is serving the community in a new way.

The Champaign non-profit community garden grows fresh produce, while educating and employing at-risk youth.

Executive Director Nicole Bridges said not everyone in the community can get to the fresh produce they want.

“Though it might be easy to access a corner store that might have bananas and bread, that’s all that people are accessing from those corner stores and those gas stations that are predominantly based in more urban, lower income neighborhood at a much higher rate," she said. 

Prosperity Gardens purchased a school bus to take their produce market to those who don’t live within walking distance of a grocery store.

“I’m hoping our launch dates going to be in August and that we get a really great response," said Bridges.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food insecurity refers to a limited availability of safe and nutritious food.

Prosperity Gardens is working to address this issue that affects over 14 percent of Illinois residents. Bridges is currently looking for corporate sponsors, garden partners, and businesses willing to supply parking spots for the produce bus.