Healthy Corner Stores initiative aims to improve quality of residents' health through fresh produce in community stores

If Young Kim has his way, every corner food store on Milwaukee's north side would stock fresh fruits and vegetables alongside their usual staples of potato chips and sugary drinks. "People are getting food, but are they getting the right kinds of food," said Kim, who operates the Fondy Food Center, the city's largest farmers market. "We need to increase the number of options for people to access healthy food." For his part, Kim is among a group spearheading a local effort that's part of a nationwide movement to encourage small corner stores - often the only source of groceries in low-income neighborhoods - to carry fresh produce and in turn improve the quality of residents' health. The new Healthy Corner Stores initiative, in its infancy stage, is in keeping with the mission of the market, which has deep roots in the community.