History
Led by Ona Zené Yeshitela, President of the African People’s Education and Defense Fund (APEDF) and Black Star Industries (BSI), the One Africa! One Nation! Farmers Market (OAON) was launched in 2021 on the Northside of St. Louis, the most impoverished area of the city. The OAON Farmers Market was awarded a 3-year grant to end food apartheid by providing access to fresh, healthy food to the black community and build the capacity for community commerce among local black farmers and vendors.
The OAON Farmers Market is part of the Black Power Blueprint, a community-building initiative transforming North St. Louis through economic development, renovation and political power by and for the black working class. The Black Power Blueprint is buying abandoned, dilapidated buildings, initiating a rapid process of restoration or demolition and re-allocation of land to create community-generated self reliant programs.
Community Support
Community support for the Black Power Blueprint and the One Africa! One Nation! Farmers Market, and continuing the sense of pride in the community and a vision for a prosperous future once again.
Health Benefits
The Missouri Action Guide on Fruits and Vegetables stated that making fruit and vegetable consumption convenient and affordable where children and families live, work, learn, and play is an important health indicator.
End Food Apartheid!
Establishing a farmers market where their is food apartheid provides access to local and reginal agriculture products that would otherwise be difficult to obtain, and allows residents to us SNAP benefits.