South Oak Park was recently identified as “food desert”. A “food desert” is an area where fresh produce is scarce. In these areas supermarkets are far away and the only close stores are convenience stores, but these normally lack healthy foods.
Sam’s Market on 42nd street and 26th avenue will go a step further, and starting on Saturday May 26th it will launch their healthy corner store makeover.
They’ll stock their shelves with fresh local produce in hopes of residents choosing this over unhealthy foods.
Executive Director of Alchemist CDC, Davida Douglas said, “Our goal is to provide convenient access to healthy food and fresh produce for residents, promote produce consumption to community members; ultimately resulting in improved health.”
Alchemist CDC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing and strengthening the ability of Sacramento residents to shape the future of their neighborhoods. They choose this store because its larger than usual corner stores.
“Parminder Grewal (the owner of Sam’s market) expressed enthusiasm for participating in the project his store is larger than most convenience stores, which allows us more opportunities to add healthy items to the existing stock,” said Douglas.
And to celebrate this positive step on Saturday there will prizes, games, face-painting, cooking and gardening tips, health screening and a farm stand. The farm stand will run every Sunday between 12 and three o’clock 12-3 through September.
