Within a 42-block area of south St. Petersburg’s are six dollar-type stores and not one full-service grocery store that sells fresh or frozen produce, meats, dairy or whole grains.

Sold at these stores, two Dollar Generals and four Family Dollars, are highly processed, high sodium, low fiber, low nutrient foods that residents purchase in lieu of nutrient-dense foods available at grocery stores more than one mile away.

In total, dollar-type stores outnumber Walmart and Starbucks combined with more than 30,000 now operating. Plans to open another 10,000 are in the works. A trend is afoot nationally to shine a light on how they elbow out full-service grocers and other innovation for nutrition equity. By Wendy Wesley, RDN

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Within a 42-block area of south St. Petersburg there is no full-service grocery store that sells fresh or frozen produce, meats, dairy products or whole grains.

But between 4th and 45th Avenues South and 34th Street South to the Bay there are six dollar stores: two Dollar Generals and four Family Dollars.

The scarcity of affordable and nutritious foods in the area may be impacted by the concentration of these small, discount stores that sell highly processed, high sodium, low nutrient and low fiber food. By Wendy Wesley, RDN

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