WAVE 3 News - Louisville, KentuckyCity-wide push to offer fresh produce, vegetables in low-income areas

City-wide push to offer fresh produce, vegetables in low-income areas

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - For some families, the corner market is their primary source for the dinner table and pantry. If there isn't a healthy selection, they may not have access to fruits, vegetables and whole grains. However, a local push with some federal dollars is changing that.

Beyond the technicolor array of oranges, apples and potatoes lies the chips, candy and cookies - sometimes a staple for low-income neighbors. That is, until 'Healthy in a Hurry' sprung up in corner markets.

You can now add two locations to the list of stores across the metro participating in 'Healthy in a Hurry' corner stores. The locations are in neigborhoods where supermarkets aren't nearby.

Fresh produce, instead of packaged sweets, now greets customers like Gerrika Gilliam. "Maybe people will start eating more fruits and vegetables instead of the chips and junk food," she said.

Gilliam stopped by Webb's Corner Market. It's just that - a locally owned food and drink stop now with the resources to ship and stock fruits and veggies made possible by 'Healthy in a Hurry.' The program that gave Tim Webb money to renovate and revitalize his store to accommodate the new selection.

"It's been great. It's been an uplift for our store," Webb said.

The Healthy in a Hurry initiative started in 2009, in partnership with the YMCA and through a grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services.

There are now eight participating locations across Louisville. City leaders hope if you offer it, neighbors will buy it.

"They are. Not as much as they should, but I think in a matter of time they will," Webb added.

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