HARTFORD — In a city struggling to build a viable ecosystem that delivers fresh, healthful groceries, a new food shopping alternative is poised to emerge in one of Hartford’s most impoverished areas — one that could become a model for other city neighborhoods.
In Hartford’s Frog Hollow, The Grocery on Broad — near the recently opened Fire by Forge restaurant, the former Firebox — will offer shoppers the opportunity to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy and ingredients to prepare meals. Prices will be discounted based on individual and family income and can be combined with other low-income subsidies such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
“So we know that in this neighborhood, there are a lot of people who struggle with food insecurity,” said Ben Dubow, executive director of the Hartford-based nonprofit Forge City Works, which will operate the market. “And so, this is one way, kind of a dignified way of addressing that.”
Dubow said the new market on Broad Street isn’t meant to replace food pantries and other sources of food, or compete with, say, the Key Food supermarket, in neighboring Parkville.
“And this certainly is not the solution to Hartford’s grocery problem long-term,” Dubow said. “But we think of it as a way to supplement food access that works in a neighborhood.”
Dubow said he hopes the model also will work in other neighborhoods where buying nutritious food and meal ingredients such as rice, beans and other grains is a challenge.