Through SÜPRMARKT, Olympia Auset wants to bring low-cost organic groceries to the city’s food deserts

“South Central is home to 1.3 million residents and just 60 grocery stores,” writes Olympia Auset, owner of an affordable organic grocery service and pop-up shop, SÜPRMARKT, on her IndieGoGo page where she’s raising funds to open her first brick and mortar. “Health disparities kill more people than anything else in our country and 24 million Americans live without fresh food access. It is time to take a bite out of hunger by establishing healthy affordable food options in our hoods.”

On May 22, the food entrepreneur and South L.A. native launched a campaign to purchase and reopen the location that previously housed Mr. Wisdom Specialty Health Food Store and Wheatgrass Farm, which closed in January. Auset wants to reuse the space as a grocery and health food establishment and she’s asking for folks’ help to “ensure this historic location continues to serve its community for decades to come.”

Auset not only opened SÜPRMARKT back in July of 2016 as a way to combat food insecurity in her community but out of a necessity.

In her #KeepSlausonFresh campaign video to raise funds for a SÜPRMARKT physical store, she recalls spending over two hours on the bus “to get quality food. I had enough. I started a pop-up organic grocery service to make it easy for Angelenos to eat well no matter where they live.”

SÜPRMARKT has served up over 25,000 pounds of produce in the past two years in South L.A. They deliver, accept EBT, and host community events.

“With a physical location, SÜPRMARKT can serve thousands of Angelenos, and have more space to pack produce boxes, be more efficient with delivery and take out–which would mean even more impact in our community, ” Auset said via email.

Now, Auset is looking to the rest of L.A. for donations and support so SÜPRMARKT can reach its goal of continuing to serve low-income communities and make organic food accessible to all.

SÜPRMARKT has raised $20,094 so far and there’s 14 days left for Auset to reach her goal. You can donate to Olympia Auset’s goal of opening a brick-and-mortar for SÜPRMARKT to serve the greater Los Angeles community here.

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