Mobile fresh food market headed to Indianapolis neighborhoods

A new mobile food market aims to bring healthy food access to neighborhoods across Indianapolis. The Fresh for You Market on Wheels is inside a 40-foot, retrofitted bus donated by IndyGo. 

It stocks fresh fruit and veggies, shelves of staples and coolers of dairy and protein. A kitchen in the back will hold cooking demonstrations.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said the bus will travel to five different neighborhoods during the week.

“Break difficult barriers that too many of our neighbors face when trying to access healthy and affordable food,” Hogsett said.

The communities were identified by Eskenazi Health as areas with high food insecurity and low grocery access. The bus will provide the flexibility to be able to travel to different locations if needed.

The mobile grocery will also have a nutrition navigator on board to help residents and connect them with food assistance.

Eskenazi CEO Dr. Lisa Harris said healthy food access is a priority for Eskenazi Health.

“And that's because we know that the vast majority of the chronic illnesses that disproportionately burden impoverished individuals and communities can be prevented, better managed and even reversed by access to healthful food,” Harris said.

Vouchers for food will be distributed at Eskenazi primary care sites, at the hospital and through community partners.  Other Market on Wheels partners include the City of Indianapolis, Kroger, Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

More than 200,000 Indianapolis residents live in food deserts where access to healthy food is limited.

The Fresh for You Market on Wheels will be open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays.

Monday: Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center
Tuesday: Eskenazi Health Center on West 38th St.
Wednesday: Eskenazi Health Center Forest Manor on N. Sherman Dr.
Thursday: Community Alliance of the Far Eastside (CAFE)
Friday: Edna Martin Christian Center

Contact WFYI city government and policy reporter Jill Sheridan at jsheridan@wfyi.org. Follow on Twitter: @JillASheridan.