Food Trucks Keep Truckin’ BY SONORA BIRNIE BY SONORA BIRNIE
PHOTO BY JOE DYER PHOTO BY JOE DYER
As March arrives and Idaho begins to thaw, Treasure Valley As March andpromise Idaho begins to thaw, Treasure residents canarrives smell the of warmer weather and Valley outresidents caninsmell the promise of warmer and outdoor events the delicious aromas waftingweather from a thriving door eventsscene. in the delicious aromas wafting from a thriving food truck food truck scene. In Boise, local food trucks have been gaining loyal customers Incuisine Boise, local food trucks have been gaining loyal customers and credibility for about a decade. One food-on-wheels and cuisine for about decade. of One food-on-wheels expert is Sidcredibility Guarby, owner and aoperator Slow River Coffee, expert is Sid Guarby, owner and operator of Slow River Coffee, serving walk-up customers successfully for about 13 years. Most serving walk-up customers successfully for about 13 years. Most mornings, his truck can be found at 6th & State Streets–but parkmornings, his truck can be found at 6th & State Streets–but parking permanence wasn’t always the situation. ing“The permanence wasn’t alwaysGuaby the situation. culture has changed,” says. ”People are now looking “The culture has changed,” Guaby says.trucks. ”People are now for food trucks, not just settling for food Early on, itlooking was for food trucks, not just settling for food trucks. Early on, it was very hard to get people to think that they could get a quality very hardout to of getthe people think(Think that they qualitycandy product food to truck.” hotcould dogs get andacotton product outfair.) of the food truck.” (Think hot dogs and cotton candy at the state at Guaby the stateand fair.) his truck were one of the first members of the now Guaby and his truck were one of the first members of the now well-established Southern Idaho Food Truck Association. He was well-established Truck Association. Hewere was the president forSouthern years and Idaho recallsFood the beginning, when there the yearsthe and recalls the beginning, when there were onlypresident 12 trucks.for Now, statewide association supports over 45 only 12 trucks. Now, the statewide association supports over 45 trucks. According to Guaby, the mobile food truck owners can trucks. According Guaby, the other; mobileunderstanding food truck owners can nowtorely on each the success now rely on each other; understanding the success of one truck supports the growth of food truck of one truck supports the growth of food truck culture as a whole. culture a whole. who operates the Green Acres AnnyasFrampton, Anny Frampton, who operates Green food park with her husband Sean,the echoes thatAcres food park with her husband Sean, echoes that Boise sentiment. Located next to the well-trafficked sentiment. next to the well-trafficked Green Belt,Located their park operates all summer withBoise a Green Belt, their park operates all summer with rotating lineup of food trucks, live music, and an a rotating lineup of food trucks, live music, and an on-site bar. on-site bar. Green Acres officially opened for operation on Green Acresand officially opened for that operation May 28, 2021, Frampton notes one ofon May 28, 2021, and Frampton notes that one that of the main goals of the park is to offer a place the main goals of the park is to offer a place that supports the hometown economy. “Food trucks supports thejust hometown economy. “Food trucks are literally mobile, small businesses,“ she are just mobile, businesses,“ she says.literally “We hosted over 51small different trucks (last says. “We hosted over 51 different trucks (last year), over 120 local live music shows and events year), over organizations… 120 local live music shows and events with local with local organizations… it’s all these local partners.” it’sThis all these localpark partners.” year, the is opening on April 22, earlier This year, the park is opening on April than in the past. Frampton attributes this22, to earlier the than in the past. Frampton attributes this to the community’s outpouring of love and support of community’s outpouring of love and support Green Acres in bringing together some of theofbest Green Acres Idaho: in bringing together some of the best things about passionate chefs, dedicated things about Idaho: passionate chefs, dedicated www.idahomemagazine.com
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