In San Antonio, the focus of National Public Health Week is to improve access to fresh fruits and vegetables. The Metropolitan Health District’s Healthy Corner Stores program, launched in response to food deserts in 2019, is playing a key role in achieving this goal.
The program uses data from the USDA on food insecurity to identify areas that need support. Stores within a half mile to a mile of an H-E-B are then selected to participate. Currently, 45 stores in the city are part of the program and accept SNAP benefits. The program aims to make healthy foods more readily available in underserved communities.
Royal Blue Grocery in downtown San Antonio is one of the stores participating in the program. Owner Jessica Provost notes that while they primarily sell fruits due to high demand, the Healthy Corner Stores program allows them to offer a wider variety of healthy options. The success of the program has led to plans for expansion, with the city hoping to add five more stores by 2025.
