SYRACUSE, NY – For the past two years, residents on the south side of Syracuse have been traveling more than five miles in some cases to reach a grocery store. It got the attentiojn of Food Access, a local community group, and ACTS, the Alliance of Communities Transofrming Syracuse.
They want something more than the average corner store.
“Right now we’re working with local farmers,” Co-director of Food Access Mable Wilson said. “We’re trying to get fresh fruits and vegetables to our citizens.”
But that’s not all, Wilson and Food Access have joined forces with Dan Maffei and other legislators on the Food Access Coalition. The hope is to bring a full-service grocery store – like Wegman’s or Price Chopper – to the south side.
Thinking Big
“We want to have something beautiful, like in Seattle, Washington,” Mable said.
ACTS is looking to turn the community around and they belive it starts with having more options for fresh produce. As of now there is only one market on the south side that offers fresh fruit and vegetables – Jimmy’s Market.
“We’re working with Gov. Patterson,” Wilson said. “We want to get funding so Jimmy can expand his store.”
The money, grant dollars, are set aside for small business that want to grow.
Eatin’ good in the neighborhood
Store manager, son of Jimmy Mer, Rye Mer, just enjoys being apart of the community.
“I would love to see every store follow our motto and or example,” Mer said. “But they don’t want to do that. They just want the fast buck.”
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