Fresh is best

Fresh fruit and vegetables are now available in Jacksonville’s historic neighborhood of Durkeeville as part of a pilot project reducing barriers to access to healthy food.

With strategic funding from Baptist Health for refrigeration, neighborhood store Durkeeville & Co. can receive and stock fresh produce. Baptist Health provided funding to support commercial refrigeration and related equipment for fresh food. The addition was part of the Healthy Corner Store pilot through the Blue Zones Project Jacksonville to improve access to healthy food in small neighborhood stores.

The Blue Zones Project is in communities nationwide and is supported by private and public organizations in Jacksonville, including Baptist Health. Blue Zones works with restaurants, grocery and convenient stores, work sites, schools and other organizations to support nutritious food choices and make Jacksonville a healthier place to live. Durkeeville & Co., which is a Blue Zones-approved grocery store, is located on North Myrtle Avenue in the historic Durkeeville neighborhood northwest of downtown.

According to Blue Zones, the grant-funded refrigeration from Baptist Health enables the store to receive and stock fresh produce from Eartha's Farm & Market, turning a long-standing barrier into a practical, community-rooted solution.

Baptist Health’s support also encouraged collaboration across the community with other organizations that supported the store in providing healthy food options.

Learn more about Baptist Health’s commitment to improving health and well-being in Northeast Florida. Read the Community Health Needs Assessment.