Newark welcomes new store to combat 'food desert'

NJ's largest city combats 'food desert' phenomenon with another new supermarket

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- Newark officials will be on hand Tuesday to welcome another grocery store to the city.

It's part of the city's ongoing effort to use a mix of private investment and grant money to combat so-called "food deserts." Those are urban areas where options to buy affordable, healthy, fresh foods are limited.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker will cut the ribbon for a new 12,500-square-foot Key Foods supermarket in the city's South Ward. Booker says the store will provide 30 jobs to Newark residents and anchor the redevelopment of a retail plaza in the area.

The store opening comes almost a year to the day that the city welcomed the Food Depot Supermarket, which was the first grocery store built in Newark in 20 years.