The food truck craze has taken off in the Boston area and provides quick and affordable meals for people on the go. While the mobility of food trucks allows for a diverse clientele, underserved areas of Boston are not getting access to these convenient and cost effective meals.
Unable to access healthy meals easily in her own neighborhood, Roxbury native and food justice advocate Cassandria Campbell developed Fresh Food Generation(FFG). Along with Jackson Renshaw, co-founder of FFG and truck manager at Bon Me, they developed a mission to “serve underserved neighborhoods in the Greater Boston Area locally sourced, healthy, affordable cooked meals.” Through funding from a Kickstarter campaign, FFG is developing a food truck that will cater to neighborhoods with limited access to healthy food and high rates of diabetes and obesity.
The food truck menu will include the ethnically and racially diverse cultures of these neighborhoods. Chef Nadine Nelson, eco chef and social entrepreneur of Global Local Gourmet, understands the importance of providing people nourishing food that are common in their culture. From Mediterranean Kofta to Jamaican Jerk Barbecue Pork, the meals reflect the cuisine of African, Caribbean, and Latin American cultures, all while being sourced from local farms and businesses. All the garnishes, dressings, and sauces will be made in-house with the freshest ingredients.
FFG has a strong emphasis on community engagement. They are committed to hiring young adults in the communities they serve to operate the truck as well as lead food education campaigns. Campbell hopes that the food truck will inspire customers to try new recipes at home and realize that eating healthily and sustainably in Roxbury, Mattapan, and Dorchester is a possibility.
While the Fresh Food Generation food truck has not yet hit the streets of Boston, they will be catering The Dorchester Community Co-Op’s Fresh Fridays at the Bowdoin Geneva Community Hub.