Veggie Van Brings Free, Fresh Produce To Tampa Bay Food Deserts

TAMPA, FL — The moment children spot the colorful, refrigerated Veggie Van round the corner into their neighborhood, they can barely contain their excitement.

For children living in food deserts, a bunch of ripe bananas or a bag of sweet potatoes is as much of a treat as an ice cream sundae. With a shortage of grocery stores in their urban neighborhoods, fresh fruits and vegetables are in shortage and, when they are available, they're too expensive for the family's budget.

Knowing the importance of nutritious foods to maintain a health immune system during the coronavirus pandemic, Feeding Tampa Bay is donating pallets of fresh produce to the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA Veggie Van every Wednesday.

Through the Veggie Van, a mobile market place, the Y distributes fresh, nutritious fruits and vegetables into targeted communities labeled food deserts.

The goal is to meet the needs of individuals and families living in underserved areas of Hillsborough and East Pasco counties. Each Veggie Van distribution location has a demonstrated need for nutritional wellness. With the help of Feeding Tampa Bay, the Tampa Y is able to continue its regular stops during the pandemic, providing fruits and vegetables at no cost.

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The Veggie Van stops in the communities of Wimauma, Tampa Heights, Sulphur Springs, Plant City/Dover, TGH Healthpark in Tampa and Lacoochee in Pasco County.

“The Tampa YMCA’s Veggie Van, a mobile market place, is just one of the many ways the Y helps the community year-round and now we’re able to continue our scheduled stops thanks in part to partnerships with Feeding Tampa Bay in addition to our other generous donors at no cost during this critical time of need,” said Elizabeth Roman, Tampa YMCA mobile food market director.

The Y is also taking extra precautions to keep families and staff safe:

• Everything is grab-and-go at no cost, where the usual charge is $4 a month.
• Everything is prepackaged.
• There is a 6-foot social distancing set-up as a precaution with cones as a visual cue reminder for those needing food to space themselves out as recommended by the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention.
• All bags are placed on the table ready to go to minimize contact.
• Volunteers wear gloves and face masks.
• All community members are welcome to pick up a bag of fresh produce now at the regularly scheduled stops.
• The YMCA has added Lachoochee weekly thanks to emergency funds from the United Way.

What is a food desert?

Food deserts are located at least one mile from the nearest supermarket, supercenter or large grocery store in urban areas and more than 10 miles in rural areas. Many residents who live in food deserts do not have a vehicle and rely on walking or public transportation.

It becomes easier and less time-consuming to go to convenience stores and gas stations, which provide few, if any, healthy or nutritious food choices. At most of these stores, prices are inflated, food is processed and choices are limited.

In metropolitan Tampa, there are 40 locations deemed food deserts. As the Y studied the 40 locations, it became clear that limited access to healthy foods plays a significant role in poor dietary decisions.

Why is a mobile market place important for Tampa Bay?

Only 20 percent of residents in Hillsborough County meet the recommended five-a-day servings of fruit and vegetables. In underserved communities, the statistic drops to below 8.5 percent.

People trying to feed their families with lower incomes face a double impact as food costs at stores in food deserts are usually significantly higher than food costs at stores in larger communities.

Nutritious, perishable food, such as fruits and vegetables are especially high in cost. The Veggie Van will increase access to those living below poverty and the working poor.

The Veggie Van is generously supported by: Publix Charities, Bank of America, Joy McCann Foundation, Tampa General Hospital, The Saunders Foundation and Interfaith Social Action Council of Sun City Center.

For more information on schedules and stops, contact Lauren.Reyes@tampaymca.org or call 813-867-5440.

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