Oscar’s Market joins healthful program

Oscar’s market, the latest store to join Clark County Public Health’s Healthy Neighborhood Store program, will hold a produce tasting from 3 to 6 p.m. Friday at the store, 4901 N.E. St. Johns Road.

Oscar’s will stock Clark County-grown produce from the Backyard Bounty Co-op, and growers will be on hand at Friday’s tasting, the co-op said in a news release. Clark County’s Healthy Neighborhood Store program is a pilot program designed to put fresh fruits and vegetables into convenience stores in neighborhoods where full-service grocery stores are not easily accessible.

“Over the past 30 years, small neighborhood stores have primarily become places to stop for soda pop, beer and cigarettes,” Warren Neth, a Backyard Bounty Co-op grower and member, said in the news release. “It’s great to have neighborhood grocery stores like Oscar’s Market who are adding fresh produce options.”

Other participating stores include the Arco Quick Stop on East Mill Plain Boulevard; A-Dong Asian Cafe and Grocery; Europa Food Market; Mercado Latino; 24 Hour Food Mart; A-Z Liquidators; and Handy Andy.

Backyard Bounty Co-op is a Clark County marketing co-op that empowers small-scale growers to sell their produce, nursery stock, and other farm products through local venues such as farmers markets, grocery stores, and restaurants. In addition to supporting its members’ farming enterprises, the co-op has a strong commitment to a sustainable local food economy and strives to support healthy, vibrant communities.

For those interested in making donations, the group is seeking a refrigerator for storage.

For more information, visit Urban Abundance; call Neth at 360-771-1296; or email warren.cascade@gmail.com.