Fighting violence with vegetables

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ)- Lexington has had four shootings in less than four days with two deaths.

ABC 36 drove around a neighborhood where two of those shootings took place to see how people are reacting to a weekend full of violence that has spilled into the week.

What we found was not what we expected. ABC 36 reporter Veronica Jean Seltzer stumbled upon Fresh Stop Market. It is not a farmer’s market. It is cooperative buying. People pay what they can on a sliding scale. Then every other week they come collect their share

Laura Flowers pools the money and buys the produce directly from local farmers, Flowers says Fresh Stop sets up in her neighborhood, the East End, on purpose because it is harder to find fresh produce there, but it is providing more than just nutrition.

“You know, mostly we talk about vegetables, but I don’t think that’s a bad place to start,” Flowers said.

To start talking about other community problems like gun violence.

“I’ve never been scared myself, but when I think of my small children growing up in this neighborhood it makes me nervous,” Flowers said.

Outside the East End’s landmark Lyric Theater vegetables fight violence.

“There’s so many amazing people in this neighborhood and this gives them an opportunity to meet each other and talk about issues,” Flowers said.

Sharon Reed has been buying shares for about three years.

“It’s natural. It’s local. It’s delicious,” Reed said.

She says she has long been active in trying to keep neighborhood peace.

“We just need more village,” Reed said.

She says the market helps.

“Yes, anything where people can gather casually,” Reed said.

In a place where a life was recently cut short, the market aims to grow healthy people with kale, conversation, and community.