By Dennis Archambault

Eastern Market has long been the nexus of the food distribution system in Southeast Michigan. But until recently, that system hasn’t reached low income and vulnerable enclaves in the region. Through its holistic vision for diversifying its role beyond the traditional retail and wholesale identity to initiatives that are tied to economic development and social justice, the market is poised to be the catalyst to reach disenfranchised markets that need fresh and nutritious processed food.

Eastern Market is in the midst of a strategic planning process in which small and large groups of stakeholders are exploring ways of enhance the effectiveness of the market and propose areas of growth to better serve its mission in the community.

One area of opportunity is economic development. That interfaces with population health objectives of increasing employment opportunities and creating products and services that enhance health. In this case, of course, the businesses would be centered around fresh and processed food.

Eastern Market has been active in helping improve the distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables to sub-communities of Detroit for several years. Through its leadership, and grassroots initiative, neighborhood farm markets have emerged during the growing season.

An opportunity exists to develop businesses that distribute nutritious food products to underserved areas during the off-season. This is a challenge that Hampton Creek www.hamptoncreek.com and other food-oriented social entrepreneurs are addressing. It’s something Eastern Market and its affiliated entrepreneurs.

Eastern Market’s Shed 5 now offers processing capacity in its community kitchen. Collaboration with FoodLab-Detroit’s https://foodlabdetroit.com/ Detroit Kitchen Connect http://detroitkitchenconnect.com/ is an example of the market’s capabilities.

Authority Health envisions the potential from a social enterprise perspective. Creating an environment that promotes innovative thinking around nutritious food processing and distribution methods that can meet the needs and wants of low income and vulnerable communities will play an instrumental role in improving the health status of Wayne County.

Dennis Archambault is director of Public Affairs for Authority Health.