Dundee Fresh Grocery, Inc. is set to bring a non-profit grocery store to the village of Dundee. Thanks to a three-year grant of over $560,000 from the Greater Rochester Health Foundation, the organization is on track to open by early 2025. Alice Shoemaker, the president of Dundee Fresh Grocery, says the store will provide the community with fresh and wholesome foods at reasonable prices.
The volunteer board is eyeing several locations within the village and hopes to finalize a lease by October. The store will offer a variety of essentials, including fresh produce, dairy, meats, and kitchen staples like pasta and bread. Plans also include a small café area for coffee, tea, and baked goods.
The grant will cover costs for equipment, stocking shelves, and hiring a full-time manager along with two part-time employees. Volunteers will also play a key role in staffing the store, which will be open to the public without any eligibility requirements. The board is currently working on securing permits and setting up systems to participate in SNAP and WIC programs.
To ensure the store meets community needs, suggestion boxes will be placed around Dundee, encouraging residents to share their thoughts on product offerings and operating hours.
In 2023 Dundee Fresh Grocery began a free produce distribution for all residents of the Dundee Central School District, which served around 300 households per week from August through October. Using a grant from the Yates Community Endowment at Rochester Area Community Foundation, the group purchased fresh produce at the Finger Lakes Produce Auction, supporting local growers. The produce was then packaged for each household that had registered and then distributed at weekly events. This year’s program began distribution on Aug. 2 and 3 with 455 households registered. Each household received sweet corn, cantaloupe, cucumbers, zucchini, and green beans. The program will continue through September and will offer produce depending on what items are available at the auction each week
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