Summer Lettuce Project at JGTF
Dotte Mobile Grocer Partners with New Roots
Dotte Mobile Grocer has enjoyed eight months of being back on the road in Wyandotte County, KS providing fresh produce and healthy food options at affordable prices. From the beginning, integrating local produce into the market offerings has been a priority. The ability to offer local produce options is directly in line with Cultivate KC’s missions to increase access to healthy food and strengthen the local food system while supporting local growers using sustainable farming practices. Partnering with New Roots farmers to provide local produce is a natural progression for Dotte Mobile Grocer.
Since establishing a wholesale relationship with New Roots in mid-July, Dotte Mobile Grocer has purchased over 400 pounds of locally and lovingly grown produce from the 2025 growing season. This translates to $1,468.00 in sales for New Roots farmers. With immense pride, Dotte Mobile Grocer makes New Roots produce available to our community. Over 35 different varieties of vegetables have been offered at market stops throughout this season!
This season’s top-selling New Roots items:
- Tomatoes (Green, Beefsteak, Cherry)
- Onions (Red and Yellow)
- Potatoes (Red and Yellow)
- Garlic
- Scallions
This season’s top-requested items:
- Greens (especially Collards)
- Okra (sold out in 1 day!)
- Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Peaches
The popularity of summer favorites such as okra and green tomatoes was tremendous! More would have sold if more had been offered…lesson learned. Dotte Mobile Grocer was unable to accommodate every request this season, but customers were delighted when requested items began to appear on the tables at later market stops. The goal is to be responsive to the community’s interests while providing healthy food options with affordable pricing. Partnership with the New Roots program is helping Dotte Mobile Grocer in turn, strengthen the partnership with the community. As a now regular customer proudly told her friend a few weeks ago at a market stop, “This is OUR grocery store!”
There is such gratitude for these partnerships and the opportunities they provide for building a healthier, more equitable local food system. Dotte Mobile Grocer looks at what has been built this year and can’t help looking forward to what the 2026 growing season has in store.
