Bringing Fresh Produce to the Louisiana Bayou.

Across America, rural neighborhoods are struggling to eat well due to a lack of access to fresh produce. Gas stations and discount stores are bombarding these areas and stocking their shelves with processed goods and unhealthy food options which contributes to the growing number of health disparities. This type of restricted access to nutrient dense food is deeply saddening, and we've seen and heard first-hand from community members how this is having such a devastating impact on a Northern Louisiana town that we love so much.

Our 10 + years of collective experience in operating farmers markets, community organizing, public health research, food justice advocacy and serving underserved communities in regards to food access has brought us to this place of wanting better for a small rural town in Louisiana. Bing and I are very passionate about bringing local and healthy food to underserved and marginalized communities and we've found a huge love for a town called Cotton Valley in Northern Louisiana where folks have a 40-mile roundtrip commute to the nearest grocery store (there is no ride sharing or public transportation). When they do have the ability to grocery shop, the options for fresh produce and meat are limited or don’t exist at all. It is repulsive to see the selections of molded strawberries, old meat, and the complete absence of locally grown seasonal produce.

Over the past four years, Bing and I have visited Cotton Valley often, as my mother and sister reside there. My late maternal grandmother, Bernice, was born nearby and also retired in Cotton Valley in the late nineties. She loved the town and the peace of rural life which Bing and I find solace in as well. During our many visits, we have acclimated ourselves to the surroundings, met with city officials, and have forged lasting connections with the community at large. We have become a part of this community. Children riding horses, stray dogs hanging out at my mother's house, and parties hosted by "cousins" are just a few of the many things we love. The combination of our love for this town and our mission as food justice advocates has ignited a fire in us to do all that we can to help Cotton Valley, Louisiana thrive! Throughout the past 17 months, we've held focus groups with the people in Cotton Valley to find out what their needs are, met with town officials and gotten irate with the mismanagement of town funds and the lack resources provided for the community.  We have also met with USDA reps, local clinics and hospital administrators identifying specific health issues plaguing the town and held discussions with local farmers about how we can support local growers by stocking their produce in Bernice's Community Market. Through our research, we've found a community of spirited people who want, deserve and desperately need a local grocery store . . . and we need your help to make this happen.

Our goal is to raise $65,000 to buy an outdated 2,000 sq. ft gas station to repurpose into a local grocery store in the great town of Cotton Valley.  As an homage to my late grandmother who loved this town so much, we will name it Bernice’s Community Market.

 We will use the $65,000 as follows:

1. Building acquisition 
2. Hire a local contractor (whom we already have on standby) to renovate the building
3. Create an outdoor seating area for jubilees, crawfish boils, domino playing, community building and more

Our goal is to replicate and scale this model in other rural, underserved communities to create jobs, healthy eating habits, and trust amongst our own. Let’s make history together!

We love you so much. Thanks for rocking with us and supporting our endeavors throughout the years. We understand that our dreams are big, but our God is bigger! We have a heart for this work and we have been called. We are ready to do what’s necessary to make this a reality. We along with the Cotton Valley community truly appreciate any donation you can make in making a differences in the lives of so many people that can last for generations.  Whatever amount you are able to give is appreciated. We are committed to making this happen no matter the outcome.

Thank you,
Bing & Myisha
Heritagefarmersmarket.org 
[email redacted]
Instagram @BernicesCommunityMkt

Donation Incentives:

$1 - $249 mention on social media, lots and lots of hugs, and monthly updates.
 
$250 – $499
The above mentioned, Bernice's Community Market mug and monthly updates.
 
$500 – $999
The above mentioned as well as a t-shirt, and a fair trade market tote...did we mention Monthly updates?
 
$1,000 – $2,499
2 tee's, a fair trade market tote, a mug, social media mention, goo gobs of hugs, and monthly updates on our progress.
 
$2,500 – $7,999
2 tee's, a fair trade market tote, 2 mugs, lifetime hugs, social media mention, name inscriptions at grocery store site and on top of all this  . . monthly updates.
 
$8000 – $10,000
Three days and two nights stay at a Shreveport/Bossier City hotel including a car rental. 2 t-shirts,  2 fair trade market totes, 2 mugs, hugs and kisses, social media mention, name inscription at grocery store site, and on top of all this . . monthly updates.
 
Anyone interested in supporting with an amount greater than $10,000, please email us at [email redacted] to discuss limited investment opportunities. #smallbusinessrelief