Building a Market for Local Produce in the Foodservice Industry

Co-op members grow greens, okra, squash, purple-hull peas, sweet potatoes,watermelons, cabbage, lettuce, celery, tomatoes, and other produce in Waterford, MS, about 60 miles from Memphis. They rented land and opened an urban market in Memphis to expand their customer base and provide produce to a community that didn’t have fresh food stores. SARE funds paid for business training, workshops, travel, books, permits, internet access and other small business expenses while the co-op conducted surveys and feasibility studies to find additional opportunities in the foodservice industry in Memphis.