A Kansas City nonprofit marked a milestone Friday with the opening of its 100th location aimed at increasing access to fresh food in underserved neighborhoods.Kanbe’s Markets installed the new location on the city’s east side, serving parts of Raytown. The expansion comes after the recent closure of the Sun Fresh grocery store near 31st Street and Prospect Avenue, which leaders say underscores the need for more food access.“These are here to provide access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food in partnership with these incredible store owners,” said Kanbe’s Markets CEO Maxfield Kaniger.Kaniger said grocery store closures highlight the fragility of the food system.“I want to see more Sun Freshes, I want to see more Aldi’s. I wanna see more of these full-service grocery stores around the community and it’s devastating when one of them closes,” he said.Founded in 2016 with a single pilot location, Kanbe’s Markets has grown steadily.The nonprofit partners with local store owners to stock refrigerators with fresh fruits and vegetables for residents who might not otherwise have immediate access.Rebecca Anderson, manager of population health for BlueKC, said access to nutritious food plays a critical role in overall well-being.“Eighty percent of drivers of health are actually related to social needs, things like access to food, and if you don’t have access to food, you’re not gonna feel good. You’re not gonna show up at work well, you’re not going to show up at school well,” Anderson said.Kanbe’s Markets also focuses on reducing food waste, keeping more than 1 million pounds of food annually from ending up in landfills. Kaniger said the organization is on pace to surpass 1.2 million pounds this year.“There’s a lot of food out there, and there’s just no reason that anybody should ever go hungry,” he said.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —
A Kansas City nonprofit marked a milestone Friday with the opening of its 100th location aimed at increasing access to fresh food in underserved neighborhoods.
Kanbe’s Markets installed the new location on the city’s east side, serving parts of Raytown.
The expansion comes after the recent closure of the Sun Fresh grocery store near 31st Street and Prospect Avenue, which leaders say underscores the need for more food access.
“These are here to provide access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food in partnership with these incredible store owners,” said Kanbe’s Markets CEO Maxfield Kaniger.
Kaniger said grocery store closures highlight the fragility of the food system.
“I want to see more Sun Freshes, I want to see more Aldi’s. I wanna see more of these full-service grocery stores around the community and it’s devastating when one of them closes,” he said.
Founded in 2016 with a single pilot location, Kanbe’s Markets has grown steadily.
The nonprofit partners with local store owners to stock refrigerators with fresh fruits and vegetables for residents who might not otherwise have immediate access.
Rebecca Anderson, manager of population health for BlueKC, said access to nutritious food plays a critical role in overall well-being.
“Eighty percent of drivers of health are actually related to social needs, things like access to food, and if you don’t have access to food, you’re not gonna feel good. You’re not gonna show up at work well, you’re not going to show up at school well,” Anderson said.
Kanbe’s Markets also focuses on reducing food waste, keeping more than 1 million pounds of food annually from ending up in landfills.
Kaniger said the organization is on pace to surpass 1.2 million pounds this year.
“There’s a lot of food out there, and there’s just no reason that anybody should ever go hungry,” he said.
Dining and Cooking