PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. — Living near a grocery store definitely has its perks, especially for those last-minute trips during the holidays, but not everyone has that luxury.
Places like Ferndale in western Pulaski County are a good example, but fortunately solutions are in the works.
"From Ferndale, it's about a 15 minute drive to get groceries and that's for corporate world," said Kent Krause, Owner of Krause House Farms.
This food insecurity in the area is why Krause is teaming up with Justin Mitchell, who works with The Front Porch Market.
Together, the two are creating Ferndale Market to provide locally grown foods closer to home.
"The response is enormous in this community and it's something this community has needed for a very long time," Krause said.
The market is long overdue according to Krause, and it's a sentiment that Mitchell also agrees with.
"We have Dollar General here, but no produce. We're going to bring in a lot of local farms, a lot of local items from right here in Arkansas," Mitchell said. "That's the important basis of this business, but a food desert indeed is what Ferndale is and we're trying to resolve that."
So far, Krause and Mitchell said that the community has been extremely supportive since they announced the market is in the works.
Now, they're staying busy ahead of its opening next spring to bring their vision to life.
"We are having to remodel. This building has been here probably the better part of 70+ years and it's had different iterations in the past, but it's been maybe a little bit neglected and needs some help," Krause said. "So we're going to focus on that ... starting with the roof, electrical, totally inside and outside. It'll be a brand new look."
In addition to produce, the market plans to sell glass bottle milk, bread, and to-go meals.
As they get the building ready for business, they ask for support long after their doors open.
"We touch so many lives. It's not just a business to me. It never has been. It's about supporting those people that ultimately are vendors, but have become my friends," Mitchell said.
Ferndale Market is set to open Saturday, March 1st at 27024 Kanis Road in Little Rock, Arkansas 72223.