{"id":20742,"date":"2026-09-10T23:38:27","date_gmt":"2026-09-10T23:38:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/?p=20742"},"modified":"2026-09-10T23:39:08","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T23:39:08","slug":"community-outcry-over-the-citys-swayne-field-produce-pop-up-market-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/10\/community-outcry-over-the-citys-swayne-field-produce-pop-up-market-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Community Outcry Over the City\u2019s Swayne Field Produce Pop Up Market"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Sonia Flunder McNair, President of the Lucas County Board of Commissioners Lisa Sobecki, Toledo City Council President Vanice Williams<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Dawn Scotland
\nThe Truth Reporter<\/p>\n

There has been uproar on social media regarding the City of Toledo\u2019s Produce Pop Up Market at Swayne Field Shopping Center. The market, a pilot program of the city which had an opening this past Friday, September 4, will exclusively feature food vendor Al Peake & Sons and Daughter Too.<\/p>\n

While the location<\/em> is in the heart of the community the prevailing outcry is that the produce is not.<\/p>\n

The situation was relayed by a number of people on social media, including Alexicia Sims of Community United and community member Inflowwetrust.<\/p>\n

Urban Wholistics Founder and Executive Director Sonia Flunder McNair has an urban farm located in the center city at 619 Woodland in the Art Tatum district. For 10 years she has championed urban farming within the community, cultivating local produce, educating youth and adults on farming and employing community members to work.<\/p>\n

The concern has been raised that the request for proposal to become a vendor at the city\u2019s new market was never received by Flunder McNair and other farmers. Additionally, the discourse is that while this initiative created by the city aims to support the Black community, it should also reflect the community in which is serves and circulate money within it.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t sleep on the people doing this work,\u201d stated Flunder McNair. \u201cOur supporters are residents. They are taxpayers. They are voters. Many of them are the same people who show up when government asks the community to support levies, initiatives and investments even when it means paying a little more because we believe it will strengthen our city. So when it is time to invest those public resources back into our neighborhoods, is it unreasonable for us to expect that same support? We support this city. We expect this city to support us,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

To many, the situation at \u00a0Swayne Field is not new, but a continuing jab to a community that has been overlooked, underserved and underrepresented for decades.<\/p>\n

Members of the community gathered to create an alternative Pop Up Market at Urban Wholistics\u2019 Farm (619 Woodland) this past Friday, September 4 and Saturday, September 5 from 10-3 p.m. The two days featured the local farmer\u2019s food for sale, bought awareness of the farm, educated the community about growing and cooking healthy produce and put Black farming on display.<\/p>\n

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Sonia Flunder McNair executive director of Urban Wholistics<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The event was organized by Alexicia Sims and Infloww WeTrust.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was a great turnout. We were very proud to be able to invite the community to a space that already existed, said co-organizer Alexicia Sims. \u201cIt\u2019s all about educating the community. That’s what we’re here for.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Saturday, the event saw over 200 people. The event went through over 250 bags, just in that one day.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich was the goal. One of the goals was not only to inform but for people to support and know that it\u2019s here,\u201d stated co-organizer Infloww WeTrust<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is probably one of the greatest things that I’ve seen in a while, as far as just community,\u201d stated co-organizer Infloww WeTrust. \u201cIt\u2019s inspiring. That\u2019s what I really want people to understand. Even if you just come out to see it. The visual of being able to see what community looks like when people are actually moving on one accord is inspiring.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI want people to understand that this is a necessity. This isn\u2019t just a fly by.\u00a0 Everybody needs to be a part of it, everybody needs to see it, everybody need to put their foot on land and see it and involved themselves. I want everybody to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among Saturday\u2019s attendees was state Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson, who has had an interest in urban farming for quite a while.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’ve been working with urban farming and urban farmers for a number of years. And everything that we can do to support this industry is vital not only to our community, but to the local farmers because they are the ones that are doing this for business purposes. And when you think about how we can grow within our neighborhoods and build up wealth, all those things are great and important to do.<\/p>\n

\u201cSonia has been working, as well as Mr. [David] Johnson, Mr. [Thomas] Jackson, and other Black farmers who have been in our community for a long time. And I really think that when you have other folks talk about food deserts, they need to be more accurate because it’s not a food desert. What it is, is the ability to have fresh vegetables. And while I’m glad that the city is looking into this. You cannot legislate from the 21st floor. You gotta come and talk to the people who are the experts, and the experts are the ones that I just mentioned. And working in collaboration with them means that you listen to them and you work together on a plan, and come up with solutions to address the issue of nutrition, the issue of education because urban agriculture is more than just food. It’s also healing a community. And the atmosphere in this neighborhood has dramatically changed since Sonia started and continuing on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flunder McNair was ecstatic about the community\u2019s participation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like a million bucks. I don\u2019t even need a million bucks. It\u2019s the feeling. And I\u2019m just so appreciative of your support and everything you do,\u201d stated Flunder McNair to the organizers at the end of the event as they discussed next steps.<\/p>\n

The next Pop up Produce event will be Thursday, (9\/10) 12-5pm and Saturday (10-3pm. (There will be no event Friday in observance of September 11). There will be other local famers contributing to the effort.<\/p>\n

The organizers invite vendors and entrepreneurs to come out. They can be reached on their social media pages (Facebook and Instagram) @Alexicia Sims and @Infloww We Trust.<\/p>\n

To learn more about Urban Wholistics \u00a0and SOrganics visit her website urbanwholistics.org or social media pages.<\/p>\n