Atlanta woman creates farmer's market to fight food insecurity
Lakewood market addresses Atlanta food desert
Ruth Walker launched the Lakewood Sunday Farmer's Market on Jonesboro Road in June to help combat food insecurity in a southeast Atlanta food desert.
ATLANTA - A new community-led farmer's market in southeast Atlanta is providing fresh produce and local goods to help combat food insecurity in the Lakewood area.
What we know:
More than a dozen vendors gathered in a parking lot off Jonesboro Road in Lakewood as part of a new community initiative to expand food access.
Ruth Walker founded the market in June to directly address local food insecurity.
The neighborhood has long been considered a food desert, leaving residents surrounded mostly by corner stores stocked with junk food rather than fresh produce.
Walker's stand offered a mix of fresh vegetables on Sunday, while roughly 15 vendors sold goods ranging from pies to handcrafted soaps and fragrances.
What they're saying:
Walker said she wanted to offer something that addressed a missing need in her community.
"Along with the community support, we can make this into a beautiful venture for Lakewood," Walker said.
Atlanta City Council Member Matt Westmoreland called the market an incredible bright spot for the area.
Representatives from the Glenrose Heights Neighborhood Association noted that residents previously lacked a local spot where they could easily buy fresh produce.
Walker also commissioned a muralist to paint the market's building with the blessing of the property owner to help revitalize the corner.
She believes community-led initiatives are vital to moving south Atlanta forward.
What's next:
The Lakewood Sunday Farmer's Market operates every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Jonesboro Road.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered by FOX 5 reporter Rey Llerena, who interviewed market organizer Ruth Walker, Atlanta City Council Member Matt Westmoreland, and representatives from the Glenrose Heights Neighborhood Association on site in southeast Atlanta.