SEMINOLE HEIGHTS, FL — A Seminole Heights couple has developed a simple business model that’s helping farmers sell their freshly harvested produce while providing nutritious fruits and vegetables to their neighbors during the coronavirus outbreak.
Patti Mars admits that starting a new business in the midst of a global pandemic probably isn’t on the list of best practices for entrepreneurship.
But Mars and her wife, Fabiola Garcia, who has an extensive background in the produce industry, had been contemplating opening a produce stand for months. They just couldn’t find the right location for the right price.
“So we decided to put the idea on the back burner,” said Mars.
Then, recently, she heard an NPR report on how Americans aren’t getting the antioxidants needed to maintain a healthy immune system because they’re not shopping for groceries as frequently. The mandated stay-at-home orders combined with a fear of contracting the virus keeps many people from venturing out to the grocery store. And, when they do go shopping, they tend to purchase nonperishable staples because they’re unsure when they’ll be able to shop again.
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Mars said she realized that she and Garcia could provide easy access to the fresh vegetables and fruits her neighbors needed.
“I already had the flatbed trailer so it wasn’t hard to convert it into a produce wagon,” said Mars. “We put it all together in less than a week.”
With that, a business simply named the Produce Wagon was born.
The Produce Wagon is reminiscent of the days before grocery stores became commonplace and residents depended on street vendors for their fresh produce.
“Yesterday was our third day of selling produce,” said Mars.”We’ve gotten a really good response from the neighborhood.”
Each Tuesday and Friday, the couple set up their wagon at North 13th Street and East Crawford Street in Northeast Seminole Heights to sell produce from 9 to 11 a.m. They then relocate to their new location at the c.1949 Florida Beer Garden, 6905 N. Orleans Ave., where they sell from noon to 2 p.m.
Not only did her neighbors appreciate having easy access to seasonal fruits and vegetables, but the Produce Wagon allows them to avoid anxious trips to the grocery store, said Mars.
Twice a week, the couple arises at the crack of dawn and head to the wholesale produce markets on Hillsborough Avenue to select the fruits and vegetables to sell from the Produce Wagon that day.
“Fabiola has worked in the produce industry most of her adult life and has a good foundation about costs, packaging and selecting the best products,” said Mars.
Back home, they post a list of available produce and prices on their Facebook page, load up their wagon and head out.
“We’ve been selling whatever we find that’s fresh and available at a reasonable price,” said Mars. Their selection has included corn, tomatoes, avocados, bananas, mushrooms, onions, apples, carrots, lettuce, broccoli and spinach. “We’re hoping strawberries will come in soon.”
The couple plans to add more sites for their Produce Wagon so all four corners of Seminole Heights as well as the Sulfur Springs community have easy access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
For information, check out the Produce Wagon Facebook page.
See related story: Farmers Struggle To Sell Produce Dying On Vine During Coronavirus
This article originally appeared on the Seminole Heights Patch