BATTLE CREEK — Devon Wilson couldn’t help but smile.
Surrounded by family, friends and community supporters on June 15, the founder of Sunlight Gardens formally unveiled his latest venture on the 2-acre urban farm at 245 N. Kendall St., cutting a ribbon to commemorate his unique twist on the classic corner store dubbed “Farmacy.”
The hybrid farm stand/convenience store will offer nutritious snacks and drinks, organic produce and essential groceries. It’s all part of Wilson’s mission to increase local access to fresh, healthy food.
But he’s not doing it alone. Farmacy is being supported in part by grants from Kellogg Co. and United Way of South Central Michigan.
A public grand opening will be held at noon on July 17.
“It’s amazing, man. (The support) has meant everything,” Wilson said. “It just makes things more fun when you have people that actually believe in what you’re doing. … I feel very grateful and lucky.”
Farmacy will be housed in a building Wilson currently uses to wash and pack the produce grown at Sunlight Gardens. The building will ultimately be stocked with fresh produce, milk, eggs, meat and a variety of healthy snacks and drinks provided by Sunlight Gardens and other local growers.
Kellogg Chief Philanthropy Officer Stephanie Slingerland remembers visiting Sunlight Gardens about a year ago and asking Wilson what he planned to do with the building on the site, which at the time was in need of a new roof, fresh paint and some tender love and care.
Wilson’s desire to turn the building into a corner store stocked with fresh, local food directly aligned with Kellogg’s Better Days Promise to advance sustainable and equitable access to food. In partnership with the United Way of South Central Michigan, the company awarded Wilson a $25,000 grant to help make the store a reality.
“I just love what he’s doing to help make food accessible, show people where food is coming from, get people excited about how their food is grown and how it’s made,” Slingerland said. “I think he’s got an amazing vision and we’re so thrilled to be able to support it.”
Wilson is still working to determine the exact store hours, with the goal of being as accessible as possible to all shifts of work. Feedback from the community will help decide the schedule, he said.
“What makes (Devon’s) model so unique is it’s sort of by the community, for the community,” Slingerland said. “I love that he’s taking that approach and really engaging the community and making it what they want it to be and to help serve what needs that they have. I think that will set him apart and make him successful.”
For more information about Farmacy, visit facebook.com/sunlightgardens1.
Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com
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