A popular trend amongst the food industry is healthy options. This trend is being embraced the African American community in particular, with so much information available about health disparities and options amongst the Black community. Many chef and caterers have added options and some have eve created direct change to menus. One of the leaders of the movement to eat healthier are entrepreneur couple Robyn and Zack Wallace have opened Walt Disney World’s fist Black Owned vegan food truck in Orlando, Florida LOCAL GREEN ORLANDO.
Local Green opened in 2019 in January in Atlanta, and had the goal of not sacrificing taste for health. The second goal was to directly attack the health disparities of the Black community that stem for poor eating options. This is a passion project for the Wallaces each has lost family members due to health issue they believe could’ve been have been prevented with a healthier lifestyle.
The truck itself is a sight to behold. A bright green artistically designed food truck that sits prominent in the park surrounded by tables near one of Disney many serene ponds; it’s inviting to say the least.
The menu is a great twist on popular songs and music industry vernacular, Zack Wallace was formerly in the music business and brings the melodic flare to the business. Robyn is brainchild; her mission began a long time ago seeing the effects of malnutrition and unhealthy eating practices in her community. Citing the socio-economic disparities in Vine City, a community in the Atlanta area, she was told that people didn’t want “this type of food” in that area. Luckily she didn’t buy it.
“It’s a community approach to what we do. Being in Vine City… and with us starting there, we were told not to go there. With the success there we wanted to go into comparable places like Vine City and be able to offer health some of those same health offerings, so we could change health, and improve the way people in food deserts eat.“ Wallace says, “Right now we are the only vegetarian, vegan and pescatarian concept in Vine city; as far as quick service restaurants. With us being there we call ourselves an oasis in the food desert”
Currently, the truck is a first step for Robyn and Zack. They hope that the exposure and visibility will allow for more expansion to help those people who are not always able to get such options. And to be clear, the food is amazing.
“During the throws of covid, we were able to use our truck to deliver food to the homeless, and we’re actually doing a community drive where we are actually teaching. We don’t believe in just giving food away. I don’t believe that’s going to change how people do things if they’re not taught. So it’s a matter of us being able provide them with the tools, providing them with classes on how to mix smoothies, how to make snacks, and giving them the boxes to accomplish that.” Wallace states.
Local Green Orlando is currently operating within the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando Florida.