Dollar General rolls out fresh produce as part of upgrades across Alabama

Dollar General, in addition to budget party supplies, household items, make-up, cleaning supplies and toiletries, is now offering another shopping essential: fresh produce.

The retail chain, whose focus is providing "convenient access to household essentials," announced that its location at 7700 Wares Ferry Road in Montgomery has been remodeled to "offer produce in addition to the same categories, brand and products customers trust Dollar General to carry."

Several Alabama Dollar General locations in cities like Cullman, Jasper, Birmingham, Dothan, Auburn, Tuscaloosa, Huntsville, Gadsden, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Florence, Opelika, Decatur and Selma, have already gotten the upgrade and started selling produce.

These stores, along with many others in smaller cities around the state, are part of the 5,400 that now serve produce to customers as of March 2024 all across the country, a move that company said gives the chain more individual points of produce distribution than any other U.S. retailer or grocer.

The produce selection includes "top 20 items typically sold in traditional grocery stores," which includes fruits and vegetables such as bananas, tomatoes, onions, apples, strawberries, potatoes, lemons, limes, salad mixes and more.

Additionally, Dollar General said they have put a "meaningful number" of locations with fresh produce in " f o od deserts ," which are residential areas that face a lack of access to healthy, affordable food, due to either distance from a supermarket, low income, or both. These areas with lack of access can contribute to food insecurity, an issue that 17% of adults and 23% of children in Alabama face.

The Montgomery location's hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday, and you can find the information for any Alabama location at Dollar General's directory .

Sarah Clifton covers business for the Montgomery Advertiser. You can reach her at sclifton@montgome.gannett.com or follow her on X @sarahgclifton .

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Dollar General rolls out fresh produce as part of upgrades across Alabama