DC Central Kitchen brought a “Healthy Corner” food stand to the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy as part of efforts to expand access to fresh, healthy food. Courtesy of Kelly Decerbo/Washington Nationals
By Southwester Staff
At the end of June, DC Central Kitchen launched a “Healthy Corner” stand at the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy, advancing Washington Nationals Philanthropies’ efforts to expand food access in Wards 7 and 8, an area of the District considered a food desert.
DC Central Kitchen’s Healthy Corners program is a pioneering venture that works with independent corner stores to provide fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables at wholesale prices and in smaller quantities than a conventional distributor, creating affordable and accessible options at below-market prices for the consumer.
“Food has always had the power to bring people together, and this newest Healthy Corners location at the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy is direct proof of that,” said José Andrés, Chair Emeritus of DC Central Kitchen in a press release. “This partnership is bringing healthy, affordable food to more people, helping children play and achieve their potential, and creating opportunities for local farmers and culinary students of DC Central Kitchen.”
Through its programming, Washington Nationals Philanthropies has supported the delivery of nearly 1 million meals into the Washington, DC region since 2018, including through the only year-round farmers market in Ward 7, which delivers fresh produce at deeply discounted prices. In 2024, Nationals Philanthropies will deliver more than 100,000 meals to the community.
The new “Healthy Corner” is currently located at the Academy’s existing concession stand. Washington Nationals Philanthropies will break ground on a new food access structure in the coming months, and it is expected to be completed by early 2025.