New Long Beach City Program Will Bring Fresh Produce To Corner Stores

Under a new program, Long Beach corner stores will receive produce and equipment like shelves and refrigerators for free. The fruits and vegetables will then be sold at competitive prices.

The city will work with Long Beach Fresh, a local nonprofit that aims to hook Long Beach residents up with fresh, locallygrown produce. The nonprofit works with urban farms in the area like the MAYE Center, Grow2Zero FARMS, and the Harbor Area Farmers' Market.

The free produce program will last for three months, with an extension of up to six months for markets who join the Long Beach Healthy Market Partnership. The city hopes that once the supply chains are established, stores will continue selling the produce.

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The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services has been working with neighborhood markets for years, according to city officials. Their goal is to transform corner stores and other neighborhood markets into healthier spaces.

"The produce that might be sort of most in demand, say, at a small market in West Long Beach might look very different than the produce in demand in a small Long, small North Long Beach market," said Lara Turnbull of the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services. The city will work with the market owners and residents to supply produce that's in demand in each neighborhood.

The city is working on identifying potential partner markets at the moment. Interested markets can email healthyactiveLB@longbeach.gov to find out how to get involved.