I read about the new FoodChain Neighborhood Green Grocery opening in a Lexington food desert. Where exactly did this open, and are there plans for more grocery stores in underserved parts of town?

It's at five oh one West Sixth Street, Suite one oh five, right near the corner of West Sixth and Jefferson Streets. FoodChain just opened it this week on Lexington's north side, and it's really exciting because they're carrying produce from local Kentucky farmers like Stepping Stone Farm, Rootbound Farm, and the Kentucky Black Farmers Association. Plus they stock grab-and-go lunches, pantry basics, hygiene items, and even have a play area for kids. Every customer leaves with free popcorn and a mini-slushy.

That sounds like they're trying to make it a real community space, not just another store.

Exactly. And as for more stores coming, there's actually a lot happening. Kroger got approval back in February for a new Marketplace on Lexington's northwest side, and Publix has at least two more stores planned for the Lexington area beyond the one that just opened on Stockton Way. The city's also been running that Mobile Market program with Kroger and God's Pantry Food Bank, making sixty stops every month at twenty-six different locations that are classified as food deserts.

So it sounds like there's recognition that north Lexington especially has been underserved?

Absolutely. The mayor's Commission for Racial Justice and Equality pointed out that most African Americans in Lexington live in census tracts where there aren't nearby grocery stores. City officials say it stems from a lack of investment in the northern hemisphere of Lexington, and these aren't just naturally occurring patterns but decisions that have been made year over year around how we build our communities. So it's encouraging to see organizations like FoodChain and Black Soil working to change that.

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