As National Public Health Week begins Monday, here's where you can get fresh produce

san antonio – You may notice a greater emphasis on health across the country this week.

National Public Health Week begins Monday and runs through April 7. Cities across the country are giving people tips on how to improve their health. In San Antonio, leaders are emphasizing the need to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

In 2019, the Metropolitan Health District launched the Healthy Corner Store program. The program provides smaller stores in areas considered food deserts with more fruits and vegetables at lower prices.

“We use food insecurity information from the Department of Agriculture to determine areas across San Antonio that are considered food insecure…Once we identify those locations, those locations are located half a mile from the HEB. within a mile of the city,” said Jennifer Lopez, a community health worker with Metro Health. – Garza said.

Currently, 45 stores in the city are participating. Each receives his SNAP benefit. Click here for the list.

Royal Blue Grocery in downtown San Antonio is also on that list.

“Right now, we're focusing on fruit because that's what sells best. But through this program, we're focusing on fruit. We are now able to expand and offer more options,” said Jessica Provost, owner of Royal Blue Grocery.

We also want to expand our Healthy Corner Store. Lopez-Garza told KSAT that the city hopes to add five more stores to the program by 2025.