Photo by Joyce Ellwanger-Flickr

Volunteers are growing fresh fruits and vegetables at Alice’s Garden as part of a new initiative to increase availability of fresh produce at corner stores in Lindsay Heights.

Alice’s Garden, at 21st Street and Garfield Avenue, donated two 12- by 24-foot plots to the Healthy Corner Store Initiative planning committee of the Lindsay Heights Health Alliance. Committee members Joyce Ellwanger and Demetrius Brown are spearheading the work in the garden.

Three out of approximately 17 corner stores in Lindsay Heights have agreed to participate in the Healthy Corner Store Initiative and sell the locally grown produce: Magic Foods, 2879 N. 16th St.; Eagle Foods, 1401 W. Center St.; and Family First, 1845 N. 12th St.

“We conducted an in-store survey to determine what fruits and vegetables were most desired,” said Jessie Tobin, Lindsay Heights Health Alliance coordinator. “Strawberries, watermelon and peppers were some of the top contenders,” she added. So far, sweet and hot peppers have been planted, along with onions, tomatoes and potatoes.