Pop-Up Farmers' Market Works To Combat Food Deserts

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Many Baltimore neighborhoods are sitting in the middle of a food desert. One way to solve that problem is with a pop-up farmers' market. That's the thinking behind an event this weekend that provides a fresh Thanksgiving meal.

Gigi Barnett explains it's called a "crop circle."

Imagine going to a farmers' market, stuffing your bag with fresh produce---like apples, mushrooms, collard greens---and then walking away,  no cash or credit cards needed.

That's the thinking behind "crop circles," a pop-up farmers' market created to feed the thousands of city neighbors who are living in food deserts.

"No strings attached. Come get fresh food, enjoy the day" said Greg Vetter.

Vetter is one of the creators. He and his brothers own a salad dressing company called Tessemae's. Last year, they got the idea to create the event because of the soaring obesity rate among children, especially in cities like Baltimore.

"So people don't have any access to food, or you're morbidly obese, it's crazy to actually say out loud, but all we want to do is take action" Vetter said.

Living in a food desert means your nearest grocery store is more than a quarter mile away. Thirty percent of neighbors don't have cars and availability of healthy food is low.

Organizers say they collected at least 40,000 pounds of produce---enough to feed more than 5,000 people.

"You don't really get too much good food but you have to eat, you have to survive, so you have to buy what you can," said Tenaya Thrower.

"I have two small children and they eat like horses and it's hard to go to the market every week and feed them, so you have to come to things like this to help," said Denise Worsley.

This is actually the third "crop circles" event. Organizers started it in California and ended up back home in Maryland. A forth "crop circles" is in the works.

Organizers say they have not yet decided in which city the next "crop circle" will pop up.