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Wayne County approves contract with Eastern Market to deploy two mobile grocery trucks
Summary
Wayne County approved a 24‑month professional services contract (with one‑year renewal option) with Eastern Market Corporation to design and operate mobile grocery trucks serving 43 communities; two trucks will be procured and operation includes a 20% markup and printed nutrition materials.
The Wayne County Health and Human Services Committee approved a 24‑month professional services contract, with a one‑year renewal option, with Eastern Market Corporation to design, implement and operate mobile grocery trucks that will serve 43 communities in the county.
Aja Harris Martin said the county ran a public procurement and received two bids; Eastern Market was selected to operate the county’s mobile grocery initiative. Ryan Dinkgrave of Eastern Market told the committee the organization has run a farm‑stand program for more than a decade and will expand to countywide service with the new trucks.
Under the contract, the county will procure two mobile grocery trucks over the course of the agreement. Committee discussion clarified that the larger line item labeled “printing services” included the full purchase and outfitting cost for two trucks (the $379,000 figure referenced in committee questions) and a separate $49,000 line is for printed outreach and nutrition materials such as recipe cards and nutritional facts. Eastern Market staff said the vehicle buildout is all‑inclusive (including vehicle wrap), and recipe/nutrition printing will support in‑market nutrition education.
Eastern Market said the new trucks are designed for quick setup — side‑opening vehicles that can sell on site and accept multiple payment methods, including benefits. The vendor said the vehicles have a 12–16 week lead time after ordering; in the interim the county plans to use Eastern Market’s existing farm‑stand assets to begin outreach and service this summer.
Commissioners asked about scheduling and community outreach. Eastern Market and HHVS staff said the county will publish a schedule and allow community requests via the department’s outreach request form; the county also plans to use newsletters and a calendar feature on the new website to advertise regular stops. Commissioners discussed prioritizing areas identified as food deserts and noted interest in including Highland Park and senior‑serving sites. County counsel reported extensive collaboration between county staff and the vendor during procurement and said analysis addressed outstanding issues.
Commissioner Anderson moved approval and Commissioner Baker McCormick seconded; the motion carried by voice vote.
