FOOD IN LOCAL STORES

Encourage people to buy fresh produce from local corner stores, bodegas and liquor stores that stock it, and encourage more neighborhood stores to sell fresh fruits and vegetables.

CHECKLIST

• Shop locally.
• Say hi to your neighbors.
• Walk, bike and take public transit (cabs qualify). Get rid of your car if you have one, unless you have a very, very good reason for keeping it.

Project Information

Fresh-picked cherries. Locally grown sweet corn. Exotic mangoes, papayas, plantains and lychees. (Hungry yet?)

Did you know that your local corner store or bodega just might save you a trip to the mega-mart when you need these and other fresh fruits and vegetables? By shopping locally, you support small business owners, avoid inconvenient trips to the superstore and are far more likely to bump into your neighbors. That's why Neighbors Project supported a pilot project in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood from 2007 to 2008 to provide social marketing and technical support for local corner stores that carry fresh produce and to encourage more corner stores to follow suit.

If your store has no produce, or just bananas that look like they're in pain, use our guide to working with your local store owners to make fresh produce readily available. Choose your level:

• Level 1: How to Throw a Corner Store Cooking Class
• Level 2: How to Increase Produce in Your Local Corner Store

Cooking Locally!