CHICAGO (AP) – Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is making another effort to launch a produce bus project to take fresh fruits and vegetables to parts of city lacking groceries that offer them.
The Chicago Tribune reports Emanuel on Friday visited a trucking depot that has been converted into an urban agriculture farm to highlight efforts to serve the city’s food deserts.
In June 2012, Emanuel announced a federal grant for two produce buses and promised more of the vehicles. However, the buses were later taken out of service, with the foundation that ran them, Food Desert Action, reporting thousands of dollars in losses.
This time, the program will be run by Growing Power Chicago, an urban farming nonprofit that grows produce year round on 12 acres in the city. Emanuel promises the venture will be successful.
