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YMCA’s Healthy Corner Store Initiative provides fresh foods in “food deserts”

Posted at 7:37 AM, Sep 01, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-01 08:25:42-04

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Your community may have access to fresh fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods, but the same can't be said for some areas around the state.

But there's a big push in Lansing to change that and make sure under served communities have healthy food options.

Lawmakers are trying to get $6.5 million to make it happen. The goal is to help grocery stores in low income areas to open, renovate, or expand so they can stock fresh, healthy foods.

In Grand Rapids, the YMCA is getting a head start, targeting areas called food deserts where fresh food is hard to find. It's called the YMCA's Healthy Corner Store Initiative.

The program works to connect local farmers to under served areas to supply fresh fruits and veggies to seven urban corner stores in the Grand Rapids area.

"It's helping these communities have more regularly fresh produce," said Eugene Seuing, the community health director at the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids. "A lot of these communities don’t have Meijer or bigger stores that are going to be located in walking distance from residency."

Those residents are now supplied with healthier and cheaper food at a more convenient location.

Expanding on the concept of the YMCA Veggie Van, a farmers market on wheels, the Healthy Corner Store Initiative is funded through several donors.

The YMCA will be promoting the Healthy Corner Store Initiative on local billboards and bus ads for the next few months.

Locations:
Creston Market – 1403 Plainfield Ave. NE Grand Rapids, MI 49505
Guatamalan Imports – 188 Wealthy St. SW Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Korpos Imports African Market – 4439 Eastern Ave. SE Kentwood, MI 49508
Latin American Super Market – 758 Alger St. SW Wyoming, MI 49509
Miss Tracy’s Party Store – 1043 Franklin St. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49507
Oxford Food Market – 817 Oxford St. SW Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Sam’s Supermarket – 601 Eastern Ave. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49503

For more information, call 616-855-9648.