MOBILE MARKET Grocery store on wheels fills neighborhood need

Bob Norman, chief operations officer, welcomes customers to the Summit Fresh Mobile market at Van Buren Homes in Barberton. The market returns to Barberton on Saturday.

By CHRISTINA McCUNE
BGNN managing editor

BARBERTON  A grocery store on wheels – complete with fresh produce, local goods, frozen items and more — returns this Saturday to Barberton.

Summit Fresh Mobile Market, which has been steadily growing, has expanded its reach to Van Buren Homes.
The bright green truck loaded with everything from bread, meat and milk to veggies, fruit, spices and condiments to boxes, cans and refrigerated and frozen ingredients for any meal of the day will return to 410 Pasadena Place, Barberton 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. this Saturday and continues a monthly schedule of visits: April 18, May 16 and June 20.

Inside, the truck is well-lit with music playing over speakers and a wide selection of affordable fresh, healthy options for groceries for local residents and families and encapsulates the grocery store atmosphere and experience.

At a recent visit to Van Buren Homes, Ebony Yeboah, executive director of Summit Fresh Mobile Market, welcomed visitors and asked them to register and customers were able to receive a $15 coupon to use for at least $30 worth of groceries. The mobile market accepts cash and debit/credit cards and recently began accepting SNAP. Anyone is welcome to shop at the mobile market. Customers can see a list of items on the truck and what’s new. Personal shoppers are available to those who have mobility issues. People are asked to fill out a survey so the program can continue to meet people’s needs by knowing when to be at locations and what to be stocked with. Recently, sauerkraut, string cheese sticks, JELL-O, parfait and applesauce cups were added.

The mission to reach communities designated as food deserts began just more than a year ago in November 2024 and the 501c3 nonprofit organization won a grant to purchase the truck, Yeboah said. Summit Fresh Mobile Market has several partners and sponsors. According to the website, the mission is to empower individuals with access to nutritious food and to promote equity in health outcomes leading to enhanced well-being across resource-restricted communities.

Yeboah said the mobile market aims to assist people in neighborhoods who may not have transportation or easy access to fresh healthy affordable foods.

“Food deserts disproportionately impact low-income neighborhoods, communities of color, seniors, and individuals without reliable transportation,” the website states. “These systemic barriers often lead to increased rates of chronic diseases and poor health outcomes.

“Our goal is to bridge that gap,” the website continues. “Not only by bringing fresh food directly into neighborhoods, but by listening to what each community needs and adapting our services to match. Whether it’s setting up near community centers, schools, churches, or senior housing, we’re there – rain or shine.”

The truck has a schedule available on the website and Facebook page and has about 10 stops each month at neighborhoods in the Akron and Barberton area including at the University of Akron, Kenmore, Ellet, Summit Lake and more.
People can grab a basket just like at a grocery store and walk through to pick out items.

Bob Norman, chief operations officer, said he has noticed children in particular enjoying picking out items. He said they see about 30 customers at each stop.

“Now that we’ve had multiple markets at the same sites we are seeing a transition of healthier items selection,” Norman said.
He has noticed shopping baskets being filled with more fresh produce instead of boxed and processed snacks. He said they have received positive feedback from customers.

“When they get in here and they see how bright it is and all the different choices it creates an upbeat exciting grocery experience,” he said.

Norman said the market supports local farmers and suppliers and also provides health education and resources such as offering recipes and cooking demonstrations.
The market works closely with local organizations, churches, health professionals and community leaders.
“Our experience with the customers has been phenomenal in how excited they are,” Norman said.
For more information, visit summitfreshmobilemarket.com.