Kanbe’s Market

I have followed Maxfield Kaniger on social media and in the news for a while now. Still, it was not until a few weeks, when I saw him present Kanbe's Markets at the Keystone Innovation District, that I fully understood his impact in Kansas City and beyond.

Kanbe’s Markets is a nonprofit organization that provides access to fresh, healthy foods in the areas of Kansas City designated by the USDA as a “food desert,” where residents lack consistent access to healthy and affordable food.

They aim to eliminate food insecurity by providing a distribution model that includes more people, enhances small businesses, and improves communities, one neighborhood at a time.

Its Healthy Corner Stores program is the foundation of its mission. They went from one location in 2017 to 12 at the beginning of 2020. Currently, they are up to 43 locations all over the east side of Kansas City, providing fresh produce to the community.

Over 250,000 KC residents have been served to date, and over 11 months in 2021, they kept 161,000 lbs. of produce from ending up in landfills.

If you cannot make it to one of their corner stores, they will deliver meals directly to your home.

Kanbe’s mission leverages and enhances existing parts of the local food economy.

Small businesses. Produce wholesalers. Local farmers. It takes everyone to give access to and put fresh, healthy, and affordable foods within walking distance to thousands of residents in Kansas City.

To learn more about Kanbe’s Market, please visit their website.

Website: kanbesmarkets.org