Here for What Matters: Answering Communities' Calls for Produce

While Dollar General is not a grocer, we understand millions of Americans and their families rely on us to provide convenient access to affordable and nutritious foods. We care about and are invested in the well-being of our hometown communities, especially when elected officials reach out and ask us to add produce to stores when it was not conveniently accessible to residents.
 
As part of Dollar General’s commitment to address food insecurity, it currently offers fresh fruits and vegetables in nearly 3,900 stores and plans to offer produce in more than 10,000 total stores over the next several years, with a meaningful number of them in current United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defined food deserts. In fact, Dollar General plans to offer produce in more than 5,000 stores by January 2024, which will give the Company more individual points of produce distribution than any other U.S. mass retailer or grocer.
 
In each of the following communities, Dollar General answered the call to serve and now offers fresh produce, including tomatoes, onions, apples, strawberries, potatoes, sweet potatoes, lemons, limes, salad mixes, and more.  Learn more about how we’re Here For What Matters in:
 
South Park, Michigan
In June 2023, Dollar General added produce to its store in the South Park neighborhood of Port Huron, Michigan, giving residents access to fresh fruits and vegetables after its local grocer burned and closed.
 
David Haynes, the City’s Director of Planning and Community Development, reached out to DG asking for produce to serve the community of nearly 3,000 residents and said, “Residents have expressed their view that there is a food void since their neighborhood grocery store burned down.”
 
“We are grateful for the continued partnership with Dollar General and their commitment to the neighborhood. Fresh produce is an urgent need, and this enhancement will buttress additional investments being made in South Park,” voiced Port Huron City Manager James Freed. “The Conner Street corridor and South Park is one of the most promising areas of the city, seeing millions of dollars in new investments and planned investments.”

 

“At Dollar General, we strive to be a positive economic influence in the communities we serve and look forward to offering fresh fruits and vegetables in South Park soon,” said Steve Brophy, Dollar General’s vice president of public policy and government relations. “We believe our partnership with Port Huron officials highlights our commitments to serve as a good neighbor and address food insecurity in communities where other retailers either cannot or will not serve.”
 
Additionally, Dollar General was recently awarded the Hometown Health Hero Award by Michigan Public Health Week Partnership for its produce, philanthropy and wellness initiatives in the Great Lake State.
 
Read more: South Park Dollar General to bring in fresh produce by late July (thetimesherald.com)
 
Sopchoppy, Florida
In Sopchoppy, FL, a community of less than 500, Mayor Lara Edwards reached out to Dollar General when the City’s only grocery store within a 15-mile radius closed, leaving the community without nearby access to fresh fruits or vegetables.  By June 2023, residents once again could purchase fresh produce in town when their local DG expanded its selection to serve Wakulla County residents.
 
“I appreciate the prompt response to my request for fresh produce to be sold at our local Dollar General store,” shared Sopchoppy Mayor Edwards. “Sopchoppy is a small, rural city and many citizens are unable to go to the bigger stores 20 miles away for produce or groceries. We look forward to the added convenience of having fresh produce nearby.”
 
Read More: Sopchoppy Dollar General plans to add produce (tallahassee.com)

 

Fort Payne, Alabama
Residents in Fort Payne, Alabama reached out the Company asking to add to produce to its store on County Road 89, and DG delivered.  In June 2023, Dollar General added produce to the DeKalb County store, now providing customers with additional and affordable access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
 
“We’re excited to offer Fort Payne neighbors with the added convenience of access to fresh fruits and vegetables,” said Donna Hernandez, Dollar General’s divisional vice president of store operations. “At Dollar General, we strive to be a positive economic influence in the communities we serve, and we believe the produce addition in Fort Payne highlights our commitment to our mission of Serving Others and keeping our customers at the center of all we do.”
 
Dollar General has longstanding history in Fort Payne, having opened its first store more than 40 years ago in 1982.

 
 
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Dollar General’s produce set includes the top 20 fruits and vegetables typically sold in traditional grocery stores, covering approximately 80% of produce categories, alongside frozen and refrigerated foods, like milk, cheeses, eggs and additional foods customers trust Dollar General to carry.
 
For more information on how Dollar General is Here for What Matters In its local communities, visit hereforwhatmatters.com.