Lovey Gilliam | Leafy Greens Market

Leafy Greens Market

Lovey Gilliam

East Point, Fulton County

Farmer Lovey Gilliam is no stranger to Food Well Alliance. Her Southwest Atlanta farm, Gilliam’s Community Garden, has received support since 2015. In July, Lovey opened Leafy Greens Market in East Point to provide the community with locally grown food right in their neighborhood. “I can’t be the big box store, but I can be that corner market you can walk or ride your bike to and pick up the staples and necessities you need, “ said Lovey. 

The inspiration for Leafy Greens came during the pandemic. While she had a mobile farmers market she used to deliver produce, she wanted to create another option for her customers to get fresh food. Leafy Greens quickly evolved into a one-stop shop for fresh produce, made-to-order meals, and local snacks. 

Customers want clean food, and Lovey has made it her mission to provide the community with healthy options. All the produce comes from Gilliam’s Community Garden and the shelves are stocked with staples made without artificial ingredients and dyes from Sevannanda Fresh Food Market. Products from 15 local vendors are also available including granola from Just Good Clean Cooking, freshly baked bread from Sweet-but-Savory Bakery, and grab-and-go teas from Majestea. In addition to grocery staples, customers can order fresh home-cooked meals provided by Dished Palate Chef TJ and Strange Made Chef Dasara Strange. The store is also home to Georgia’s first-ever hydroponic lettuce cut fresh to order. “If something happens to deplete our soil, I want people to know that they can still get tomatoes and other vegetables through hydroponics.”

In addition to giving Gilliam’s Community Garden a grant to be able to grow all the fresh vegetables for Leafy Greens, Food Well Alliance also helped cover some of the renovation costs when the price of materials tripled. “Food Well Alliance gave the last funding we needed to open or we wouldn’t be open today.”