When Alex Chuck, 17, wants to top off his sandwich with a crisp piece of lettuce or pack a juicy orange for lunch, he’s often out of luck. It’s not an easy trip to grab a few bags of fruits and veggies in Washington Heights, his New York City neighborhood. Grocery stores that carry fresh produce are few and far between.
Instead, right outside his door are numerous fast-food franchises and corner stores that serve up sugary drinks, fried meals, salty snacks, and candy. And when healthy foods are inconvenient to buy or unaffordable, people end up eating junk food that is more readily available and cheaper. That can lead to serious health consequences.
So Alex decided it was time for a change: In 2021, he signed up to work in a community gardening program. For the past two summers, he’s grown produce for local families, including his own.
“It gave my mom some really cool, fresh things to cook with,” he says, including vegetables new to his diet. “That was the first time I made and tasted okra.”
The experience also helped open Alex’s eyes to what families across the country are missing out on.
When Alex Chuck, 17, wants to top off his sandwich with a crisp piece of lettuce or pack a juicy orange for lunch, he’s often out of luck. He lives in Washington Heights, a New York City neighborhood. Grocery stores that carry fresh produce are few and far between. It’s not an easy trip to grab a few bags of fruits and veggies.
Instead, right outside his door are numerous fast-food franchises and corner stores. They serve up sugary drinks, fried meals, salty snacks, and candy. And when healthy foods are inconvenient to buy or unaffordable, people end up eating junk food that is more readily available and cheaper. That can lead to serious health consequences.
So Alex decided it was time for a change. In 2021, he signed up to work in a community gardening program. For the past two summers, he’s grown produce for local families, including his own.
“It gave my mom some really cool, fresh things to cook with,” he says, including vegetables new to his diet. “That was the first time I made and tasted okra.”
The experience also helped open Alex’s eyes to what families across the country are missing out on.