Online Farmers Market Hits The Road With Redesigned School Bus

PASADENA, MD — Agriculture has been a big part of Kim Wagner's and Hannah Grose's lives. They love working the earth and producing delicious food for others unable to have gardens or grow their own produce. It dawned on them one day that they could be part of the solution to bring fresh food to city dwellers that goes beyond having a stand at farmers markets.

"Both Kim and I had been working on and around farms in the region for some time. Kim had been farming pigs and other livestock, as well as mushrooms, microgreens and specialty vegetables for about 10 years in the region, depending heavily on farmers' markets for farm income. I had been working on animal, fruit and vegetable farms, as well as agricultural support services and non-profits in the region for five years. We saw that one of the greatest obstacles to small-scale farms is distribution and marketing. We also recognized a growing need and desire for access to clean, local healthy food in our area, despite the ever-increasing business of people's lives," Grose told Patch.

They decided to create an expansive network of area producers willing and eager to provide produce to others that Grose and Wagner would deliver to them after customers shopped online through their initiative called Black Bottom Farm Collective, which is located at 7672 Water Oak Point Rd. in Pasadena. In six months' time, the pair has collaborated with more than 50 farms, local food makers and small-scale food movers to offer a wide variety of goods through their online farmers market.

"We work with some farms individually, although we also work with some through co-ops or other local farm businesses that aggregate from food makers with similar high standards. Our goal is to source as much as possible hyper-locally, within 50 miles, and locally, within 100 miles, but we do stretch up to 250 miles for some items," Grose told Patch.

Customers simply sign up for a free account through Black Bottom Farm Collective's online farmers market and shop up until Monday 9 p.m. for a Thursday delivery. They can choose from a local community pick-up location or a home delivery.

"Unlike a CSA, there's no commitment or up front cost, and you can shop totally a la carte. We aim for as close to a full diet offering as possible, with seafood, meat and alternatives, eggs, dairy, produce, bread and more. If folks are looking for a more traditional CSA-like experience, we do offer a Black Bottom Farm subscription with monthly billing and access to delivery discounts, and special offers," Grose told Patch.

Currently, Grose and Wagner's business Black Bottom Farm Collective delivers to Easton, Kent Island, Annapolis, Arnold, Severna Park, Pasadena, Glen Burnie, and parts of Baltimore. But Black Bottom Farms can still be found at the Severna Park farmers market every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. Customers can find organic greens, mushrooms, microgreens, fresh seafood and ready-to-eat meals made with local ingredients.

Black Bottom Farm Collective focuses on eco-friendly and low- to no-waste meals, so their weekly offerings of prepped dishes varies each week.

"If we've got extra tomatoes one week, we'll make salsa. Extra mushrooms? Mushroom bruschetta, vegan crab cakes and vegan scallops. We typically have lots of dips and spreads, marinated proteins, ready-to-grill kebabs and vegan seafood alternatives. Sometimes we'll have salads, sandwiches or breakfast items, as well," Grose said.

Grose and Wagner decided to expand their business even more. When Wagner's son and friends decided bus ownership wasn't for them, the green thumbs bought the bus and became mobile. They will debut the mobile farmer's market Sunday, June 30, at Cult Classic Brewing, 1169 Shopping Center Rd., Stevensville. They're calling their special event featuring their mobile farmer's market Black Bottom VegFest 2019.

"We'll be hosting an outdoor festival at the brewery with a farmer's market, veg-centered food trucks, kids' activities, environmental education, live music and a health and wellness fair, followed by a film screening and silent auction to benefit a local farm animal sanctuary. We're so excited to finally roll out Miss Ophelia, that's what we call the bus, for the event I think it makes a perfect maiden voyage," Grose said.

After Miss Ophelia has a successful debut, Black Bottom Farm Collective hopes to identify large area employers interested in having a mobile market and fresh healthy food brought directly to their employees weekdays.

"We really don't need much to get started- just some parking lot space and help spreading the word. Our goal is to find five or so good spots for her to hang out, one for each weekday. We'd like to stay in Anne Arundel County, and we're open to gyms, area employers, community centers or other gathering places," Grouse told Patch.

If You Go:
Black Bottom VegFest 2019 at Cult Classic Brewing, 1169 Shopping Center Rd., Stevensville
Sunday, June 30, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
4106572331
https://www.blackbottomfarmcol...