{"id":11065,"date":"2023-11-13T20:45:49","date_gmt":"2023-11-13T20:45:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/9thstreetjournal.org\/?p=11065"},"modified":"2023-11-13T20:45:49","modified_gmt":"2023-11-13T20:45:49","slug":"at-east-durham-market-ketchup-cabbage-and-a-community-mission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/9thstreetjournal.org\/2023\/11\/13\/at-east-durham-market-ketchup-cabbage-and-a-community-mission\/","title":{"rendered":"At East Durham Market, ketchup, cabbage, and a community mission"},"content":{"rendered":"
On first glance, the East Durham Market seems like a run-of-the-mill corner store. Tucked into a large, red brick building, the market\u2019s exterior is quaint and unassuming. Inside, metal shelves are stocked with essentials ranging from ketchup and pancake mix to peanut butter. Refrigerators lining the side wall hold wicker baskets of peppers, cabbage and squash. Some shelves remain empty, and business\u2014for the time being\u2014is slow.<\/span><\/p>\n Located at 306 South Driver Street in the heart of East Durham, the small market has a big mission: reducing food insecurity in a neighborhood where residents face high poverty rates and little access to healthy foods.<\/span><\/p>\n Last month, the Durham County commissioners allocated $500,000 to Communities in Partnership (CIP), the nonprofit behind the East Durham Market, to support the new grocery store.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The market first opened its doors in late July, receiving funding from grants, individuals, foundations and corporate donors. It\u2019s the latest venture for CIP, which was founded in East Durham in 2011 following a neighborhood tragedy.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere was a shooting in our neighborhood in the fall\u2026and so we came together as neighbors,\u201d said Camryn Smith, the nonprofit\u2019s co-founder and executive director.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Over time, the nonprofit evolved, launching an affordable housing initiative, a mentorship program for entrepreneurs of color, a monthly food co-op and a farmers\u2019 market.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFarmers\u2019 markets tend to contribute to gentrification,\u201d Smith said. \u201cSo we decided to pivot from a farmers\u2019 market concept to a storefront concept.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The East Durham Market is a \u201ccommunity-accountable\u201d grocery store, according to County Food Security Coordinator Mary Oxendine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Community-accountable,\u2019 meaning CIP has a close relationship with the community that it sits within,\u201d Oxendine said. \u201cThey frequently and proactively connect with community members to get their input on what kinds of things they want to see happen in the community.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n One way the market engages with the community is by sourcing its meat and produce from local, minority-owned farms \u2014 including <\/span>Fourtee Acres<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>4-Ever Vista Farms<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Delmar Farm<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n The nonprofit is also committed to providing living wages for its grocery store workers, who mostly hail from within the neighborhood. \u201cFor the folks that are able to work there, I think it would make a significant impact on their ability to take care of themselves and on their family,\u201d Oxendine said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n