By Shelby Stephens for Los Angeles Sentinel
Originally published April 8, 2026
On Saturday, April 4, Prosperity Market launched its mobile trailer in the Crenshaw District. The highly anticipated kickoff celebration showcased the next phase of their mission to improve food access and highlight local Black farmers, food producers, and chefs.
Over the past five years, Prosperity Market has increased visibility and supported Black-owned businesses through pop-up events. Now the new farmers’ market-on-wheels, a 48-foot, solar-and electric-powered mobile trailer, will travel around Los Angeles several days each week.
Founded in 2020, amid the pandemic, makeup and fashion industry veterans Kara Still and Carmen Dianne pivoted from their respective fields after noticing that over 40% of Black-owned businesses were closing, grocery store lines were growing, and there was a significant supply chain gap. Not your average farmers’ market, the trailer combines elements of a food truck and a shopping experience.
Although Still and Dianne didn’t have prior experience in the food or wellness industry, they saw a dire need for something new and fresh that would benefit their community. Still believes in taking chances and the power of the pivot.
“I think it’s about if you feel called to something, or you see an opening, don’t let not having the experience deter you. Because we [she and Carmen Dianne] brought our experience and creative backgrounds, we brought life to this. We used this to allow ourselves to ask questions and look through a different lens; to not just do things the way they’ve always been done, but to utilize our community to bring such a unique idea into perspective.”
Still and Dianne revealed their design for the first solar-powered electric trailer at the 2023 LA Auto Show, which was showcased at well-known venues like The Original Farmers Market and the Melrose Trading Post. The mobile market will visit areas in need of more diverse businesses to build an economic ecosystem that is both accessible and impactful.
Along with the mobile trailer launch, the district hosted a vendor’s market featuring a wide range of vegan businesses, a wine bar by 1010 Wine & Events, coffee from Ora Cafe, a STEAM kids area by Teach to Reach, games by Love, Peace, Spades, music by DJ Myah Moves, and cooking demos by Chef Sharon Graves of BLVD Kitchen. Hosted by Tammi Mac of KJLH, the event also highlighted a new way to discover emerging businesses with quality products that promote good health and wellness.
When asked about this milestone for Prosperity Market, Still shared, “Our pop-up market today is unique because most of the vendors there are here today, and their products are sold on the trailer. Most of them will provide samples and tell you about their products, and then you can purchase them at the trailer. This is to get people used to the trailer shopping experience. The mobile market will be going all around the city, so when you see it, you can shop it. We know people love an in-person experience.”
The Prosperity Market trailers will move around with shelves stocked with produce and goods from Black-owned businesses. A rotating lineup of LA’s top chefs will take over the trailers’ kitchens. The front of the trailer functions as a food truck, while the back is designed like a grocery store aisle filled with products from Black-owned businesses and locally grown produce from Black farmers. The first trailer was made possible in 2022 through a crowdfunding effort that raised over $100k, with two additional trailers funded by a generous donation from Dr. Dre.
Through pop-up markets and regularly hosted events, Prosperity Market makes it easy to support local Black-owned businesses while improving food access for all communities.
