LOUISVILLE, Ky. — When it comes to food injustice, community activist Jasmine Harris is all for a food fight.
“I'm a protester as well, so any form of injustice, count me in,” Harris said.
What You Need To Know
- Produce joined the growing list of items with a heftier price tag due to inflation
- Supply chain issues and bad weather have contributed to the problem
- 5 of 6 major grocery store food group price indexes increased in December
- Fruits and vegetables increased the most by percentage
She is a proud customer and co-owner of Black Market, a Black-owned grocery store in Louisville's west end food desert that was created to support food justice.
“I can walk right here and get my almond milk, get my fruits and vegetables, my kale greens. I'm just happy,” said Harris.
Black Market prides itself in providing fresh, healthy, and affordable foods, but Harris is feeling the pressure to keep shelves stocked.
Five of six major grocery store food group price indexes increased in December, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Fruits and vegetables increased the most, rising 0.9%.
Supply chain issues and bad weather are causing the problem. Black Market, which gets its produce from local black farmers like Black Soil of Lexington, is still being affected.
“The food inflation is kind of making it hard for me to get the products because everything is costly and so we are asking for more funding at this time because I want everything to remain affordable,” said Harris.
Black Market plans to start a garden and grow its own produce this spring.
Without fresh produce at Black Market, Harris fears some people in her community will have to rely on food donations that are not fresh or even expired.
“That's really frustrating when you have three kids who are hungry and you want to make sure that they're getting healthy food and not molded food,” Harris added.
She believes healthy food should fit every budget.
“I’m really passionate about it because I was once there. I was that customer, I was the person who needed the food,” she said.
To cut food waste and help customers make the most of their fruit and vegetables, Harris plans to share healthy recipes using Black Market products.
Her Nana’s kale chips recipe is one she’s keen to share.
“Nana makes them the best. I’m not going to lie,” says Harris. Soon you can get the recipe to make them just like her Nana.