Daytona Beach, FL -
Update: Daytona Beach City Commissioners are considering letting food trucks with fresh produce and other unprepared foods go to certain areas in the city over the next few months.
A contract is in the works to define specifically when and where the grocery trucks could go. Commissioners will vote on that contract at a future meeting. Right now, food trucks are only allowed in the city during special events.
Earlier Reporting:
Among the items on the Daytona Beach City Commission agenda for Wednesday is a discussion on whether to allow "grocery style" food trucks to bring healthier food options to the Midtown Redevelopment area "food desert."
A "food desert" is an area which does not have adequate access to healthy food choices, such as fruits and vegetables. If the City does agree to allow these food trucks, it will regulate their use to address the lack of fresh fruit, vegetables, and other non-prepared food items. The City does not currently allow mobile vendors unless it is part of a special event.
Below is a map of a low-income census tract provided by the City Commission showing the areas where a significant amount of residents are more than a mile from the nearest supermarket.
Below is a map of a low-income census tract provided by the City Commission showing the areas where more than 100 housing units do not have a vehicle and are more than a half-mile from the nearest supermarket.
The City held a food truck workshop last month to research ways to bring more healthy grocery options and whole food products to the Midtown Redevelopment area due to the lack of grocery stores and fresh food retailers in the area.
Below are some options that the workshop introduced in order to address the issue and set guidelines for the use of food trucks:
- Establish a city-authorized "produce event" each week along a specific route in Midtown. Mobile vendors would be able to travel to each location and operate in specific parking spaces during specific time periods.
- Start a weekly Farmer's Market in the Midtown area.
- Allow food trucks to operate 7 days a week "in the right-of-way" within city guidelines within the Midtown area (or any other district).
- Allow food trucks to operate on private property within city guidelines within the Midtown area (or any other district).
The goal is to allow the residents of Daytona Beach to have the services and infrastructure they need to enhance their quality of life, according to City documents.
Featured photo courtesy of Blulz60 and shutterstock.com
Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.
