Stone Mountain, GA — SMV Market held the second of two soft opening pop-ups on April 3, gearing up for the grand opening of its new mobile farmers market at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Stone Mountain’s historic Shermantown Community.

The opening is set for Saturday, April 17 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

SMV Market is a nonprofit organized around 3-4 years ago whose goal is to ultimately have a brick-and-mortar community farmers market in Stone Mountain Village according to President Mary Sommers.

“We realized that was going to take a while to raise that money, so we thought why don’t we do a mobile market and find somebody we can partner with. Ebenezer agreed to partner with us and let us use their parking lot, and we’re going to be here the first and third Saturday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. throughout the year,” Sommers said.

Board member Candace Walker on left and president Mary Sommers stand ready for customers
during the SMV Market soft opening pop-up mobile market at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Stone Mountain on Saturday April 3, 2021. Photo by Dean Hesse.

The market’s main focus will be on fruits and vegetables but also specialty items such as pickles, jams and jellies and baked goods. Sommers said SMV Market raised $6,000 last year through a Challenge Grant and community support and were able to purchase a truck for the mobile market they have aptly named “The Rolling Stone.”

“We are a community market; we want to be in the community. We’re trying to do this for the community and hopefully they will support us and make it so that they can easily get the fresh fruits and the vegetables that they need. We are also applying for our SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) authorization, and once we get that we will be able to take SNAP benefits too,” Sommers said.

Turnips fresh from the ground were for sale available during the SMV Market soft opening pop-up mobile market at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Stone Mountain on Saturday April 3, 2021. Photo by Dean Hesse.

Both the market and Ebenezer Baptist Church are excited about their partnership.

Charon Cooper, Administrative Secretary for Ebenezer Baptist Church said, “There’s another famous Ebenezer in the metro area as well. We are not them, but our priority is to grow and be as community and civic minded as they are, as well as other churches here in this area. SMV Mobile Market reached out to us. They were just looking for a place to set up and be in the community and they thought of us and we were appreciative that they thought of us. We decided that yes it would be a good fit and we have a community here where we have some elderly and perhaps, they want to get out and walk, not a long walk, out of their front door and come and get some fresh fruits and vegetables and some fresh air.”

Cooper said though it may increase exposure for the historic church founded in 1917 that’s not the reason for their participation.

“We’re not here for the exposure. We’re here because we are in the community, for the community to ‘Inspire the World,’ that’s our motto and that’s what we want to do. In this food desert and during this food insecurity time that we are in right now, people need access to good safe fresh healthy food and that is our main purpose for partnering with SMV mobile market.”

Vice-President Shawn Hildebrand bags produce for a customer during the SMV Market soft opening pop-up mobile market at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Stone Mountain on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Photo by Dean Hesse.

Sommers said the new “Rolling Stone” Mobile Market will work in conjunction with the city’s successful Stone Mountain Market Farmers Market which kicks-off its 2021 season June 8 and runs every Tuesday through Aug 31 from 4 p.m. -7 p.m. in the Municipal Parking lot on Main Street in the Village. “Our farmers market is meant to compliment the Tuesday market and allow people to get fresh produce more than once a week.”

Stone Mountain Market Farmers Market Manager Kim Cumbie told Tucker Observer, “I am excited to have another option for fresh fruits and veggies for people in our community. Early on in their planning, the weekly Farmers Market offered them (SMV Market) free space to share their amazing ideas with regular customers. I look forward to their success and continuing our partnership with them.”

The “Rolling Stone” Mobile Market Grand Opening is April 17, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 5486 Stillhouse Rd, Stone Mountain, GA 30083.

People looking for more information and vendors interested in participating should visit:

https://www.smvmarket.com or email [email protected]

Some of the fresh produce available during the SMV Market soft opening pop-up mobile market at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Stone Mountain on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Photo by Dean Hesse.

The ‘Rolling Stone’ Mobile Market will take place the first and third Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 5486 Stillhouse Rd, Stone Mountain, GA 30083. Photo by Dean Hesse.

A selection of cookies available during the SMV Market soft opening pop-up mobile market at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Stone Mountain on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Photo by Dean Hesse.

Vice-President Shawn Hildebrand welcomes Lorenzo Almond with open arms during the SMV Market soft opening pop-up mobile market at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Stone Mountain on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Photo by Dean Hesse.

Lorenzo Almond looks over the selection while board member Candace Walker assists him during the SMV Market soft opening pop-up mobile market at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Stone Mountain on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Photo by Dean Hesse.

Secretary Yolande Wooten bags Kale for a customer during the SMV Market soft opening pop-up mobile market at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Stone Mountain on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Photo by Dean Hesse.

Aaron Wamack and Holly Evans with Rosey talk with SMV Market Vice-President Shawn Hildebrand while checking out during the SMV Market soft opening pop-up mobile market at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Stone Mountain on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Photo by Dean Hesse.

SMV Market board members pose with Ebenezer Baptist Church Administrative Secretary Charon Cooper (second from left) during the SMV Market soft opening pop-up mobile market at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Stone Mountain on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Photo by Dean Hesse.

The Tucker Observer is a new community news website owned by Decaturish.com. We provide locally sourced news about Tucker, Clarkston and Stone Mountain.