Horizon Goodwill breaks ground to transform ‘food desert’ in downtown Hagerstown

HAGERSTOWN, Md. ( DC News Now ) — Some good news for Hagerstown — a new food market is coming downtown, where it can be hard to find healthy or nutritious food options.

The project will be welcomed in neighborhoods that have limited access to a full-scale supermarket.

The State of Maryland and private foundations helped with funding, and many in the area eagerly anticipate the project.

“There’s not much in this neighborhood,” says Jessica Scott. “There are convenience stores where you can pick up sodas and chips and candy and stuff but fresh groceries? You need to go outside of this community.”

“All those fresh fruits and vegetables that most of us who live outside of the city have easy access to with cars,” says David Shuster, Horizon Goodwill’s CEO, “well, we’ll now have ready access here in this community on a ready basis.”

Hagerstown’s mayor sees the project as making a positive difference in the city.

“A grocery store in a food desert in a historic Black community,” said Mayor Tekesha Martinez. “This is amazing.”

For Horizon Goodwill’s Chief Mission Officer, Brooke Grossman, the new market is not limited to just the neighborhoods in and around N. Prospect Street.

“It’s not just for folks that don’t have access to food,” said Grossman. “This is a resource for everyone who lives in the city. I live in the city and don’t always want to go far to the grocery store either!”

The new market opens early next year.

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