SAN ANTONIO – The city’s South Side is known as a food desert. That means fresh fruit and vegetables aren't always easy to find.
- Initiative started on April 1
- 400 pounds of fresh produce to 6,000 pounds
- Help from San Antonio Food Bank and River City Produce
To help fight that, the City started the Healthy Corner Stores Initiative on April 1.
"South of Military Drive, we do not have a grocery store, a large grocery store in the area," said San Antonio City Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran, who helped spearhead the initiative. "It’s about access."
Since the program began six months ago, the amount of produce being shipped and consumed has increased nearly 600 percent. Now, five corner stores all over the neighborhood are displaying signs outdoors, welcoming people to their unique supermarket.
"It’s a good thing for everybody to come to the corner store and eat nutritious food. It’s good for them, it’s good for me, too," said John Gamez, who frequently shops at one of the corner stores, Highland Food Mart.
With help from the San Antonio Food Bank and River City Produce, most of these fruits and vegetables are sold at supermarket prices.
"These, grapes, grapes - and look, they're only $1.99," said Gamez.
From fruit cups and peaches to avocados and potatoes, these unique markets offer a variety of produce for everyone.
"We went to 400 pounds of fruits and vegetables that were being seen in and around the community and taken in, to over 6,000 pounds now being taken in and consumed in the community," said Viagran.
Since the program began in April, five corner stores signed up, with two more working to get on board. The initiative has gotten such a good response, there are now plans to bring free cooking classes to the corner stores.