2 farmers open grocery store in Sunnyside to help solve food desert

HOUSTON “Two black farmers are working to bring fresher, more sustainable produce to south Houston.

Urban farmers Ivy Walls and Jeremy Peaches decided to open a Fresh Houwse grocery store located at 5039 Reed Road less than two months ago to address Sunnyside’s lack of fresh produce and grocery stores.

“Because we’re in a USDA-classified food desert community, it’s harder for us to get fresh local organic produce,” said Walls, co-owner of the store. “And so, since we’re here, we can offer this to our community.”

Walls, who also owns Ivy Leaf Farms, said grocery deals are also affordable because they go from farm to grocery store.

“The reason products fluctuate has to do with the distribution factor. So, since we go directly from our farm to the grocery store, there is no middleman. So it’s like a farmer’s market every single day,” Walls said.

The jewel hunter stumbled upon the store on a Friday. Hunter grew up in Sunnyside and said it was the first time he saw a fresh produce store in his area.

“It’s convenient,” Hunter said. “That was all I needed to get. I’m glad I stopped and now I can continue my day.”

Walls, along with Peaches and local chef Keisha Griggs, also open a Caribbean-style restaurant called Kudi Kitchen on MLK Boulevard and Reed Road. It will open on February 19, and it will also have a coffee shop. What you won’t find on the menu are fried foods.

“So it’s important not only to have fresh food to cook with, but also to have fresh food to eat on demand,” Walls added.

The two farmers and the chef represent the change they want to see in the community.