Fighting Atlanta food insecurity: Grants aim to help neighborhood grocery stores [Video]

ATLANTA — For a year, Adrina Rhinehart has been operating the Rhinehart Farmers Market serving the Elmco Estates and Ben Hill Terrace neighborhoods on the city’s southwest side.

The small market offers fresh fruits and veggies and specialty items, all within walking distance to homes and apartments.

“We provide fresh fruits and vegetables that are lacking in certain areas,” Rhinehart explained. “At the farmers market you can find things that you may not be able to find at other grocery stores.”

Now, the City of Atlanta is investing in neighborhood grocery stores like Rhinehart’s through a new grant program aimed at increasing fresh food accessibility in the city.

Rhinehart’s market, along with 14 others sprinkled across the city, are getting $50,000 dollars from Invest Atlanta to improve building facades and buy much-needed equipment.

Invest Atlanta CEO Eloisa Klementich told 11Alive the effort is expected to have a wide-ranging impact.

“We are looking at sustaining or adding up to 80 new …