Not having a neighborhood grocery store impacts residents' lives in many ways, including the time it takes to buy groceries, the price of groceries, food options in the neighborhood, and the health effects of not having fresh food. may give. .
Four of Norwich's census tracts are considered food deserts by the USDA. The Bulletin spoke to residents of Greenville and Taftville to find out what life means without readily available fresh food.
They all agree that fresh food should be more available in their neighborhoods. They also fondly remember Starwood's Market, which closed in 2018, as an affordable and nearby source of fresh food.
Tamir Capehart – Greenville
Tamir Capehart of the Greenville Neighborhood Board remembers when Starwood Market was open. When she first moved to Norwich from New York with her children, she said the nearby supermarkets were convenient and affordable.
“We didn't have to go to Lisbon, we didn't have to go all the way to the West for fresh produce and milk,” she said.
If Capehart forgets something she needs, she doesn't have the option of asking her children to go get it. Instead, she has to spend her 25 minutes driving across town, plus the time it takes to find what she's looking for, she said.
more:Closing is 'heartbreaking' for local shoppers
“I finish work at 5:30 to 6 and don't make dinner until 7 or 8. That's not something the kids would like,” she said. “They take three hours to digest food.”
People can plan for the extra time needed to get food, but it's still an inconvenience, Capehart said. “I need a supermarket in my neighborhood.”
Greenville needs to be more recognized as part of Norwich. If Norwich can install multiple car washes and marijuana dispensaries in the city, Capehart said it should be able to secure a fresh food source for Greenville.
“We want to be noticed and recognized,” she said. “We are a community.”
Cynthia Jean-Mary – Greenville
Cynthia Jean-Mary, vice president of the Greenville Neighborhood Board, remembers when Starwood would regularly send her coupons in the mail, and they always had a wide variety. .
Jean-Marie said it was conveniently located, especially for seniors who lived nearby, because it was on a bus route, as indicated by the bus stop outside the old Starwood building.
“We want to support (the Greenville market) 110 percent,” she said.
When you look at community factors, Greenville is diverse, so we need food that reflects that diversity. Greenville also has low incomes, so people often cook at home. High blood pressure and diabetes are common in the region, so healthy food is needed, Jean-Marie said.
Access to fresh food is a health issue
“If you don't have access to fresh food and you only have access to high-sodium, high-sugar, processed foods, that's all you can consume,” she says. “I won't be able to manage my health.”
Greenville stores strive to provide fresh produce, including Fify's Grocery, Sunshine Market, and Ravi Gas Station. Jean Mary said she's happy with what these stores are doing, but the community needs more fresh produce, from potatoes and onions to leeks and collard greens.
“They're what we use to cook, and a meal is incomplete without them,” she said. “(Otherwise) it's just carbohydrates.”
Alicia Kanu – Taftville
Alicia Kanu, who lives in Taftville, said she either has her sister drive her to the grocery store or takes the bus. When she's busy, she uses Instacart for her deliveries. When she gets delivery, her grocery bill goes up.
Kanu said she spends $500 to $600 a month on grocery deliveries, but estimates it would cost $200 to $300 if she could go to the store herself.
Kanu was also a customer of Starrwood when it existed.
“It was delicious and cheap,” she said. “Nothing really went up.”
Kanu receives food stamps, but the overall cost of living has increased. Balancing things like rent and utilities can be difficult, especially if you have children.
In Greenville, Fifi's Grocery wants to expand to sell fresh produce, and the neighborhood committee is working with other groups to start distributing fresh produce. Kanu supports these efforts.
“We need that,” Kanu said.
