Mayor Mike Purzycki Welcomes The Produce Spot To Wilmington's Northeast Community

Press release from the City of Wilmington:

May 19, 2021

Mayor Mike Purzycki joined the owners of The Produce Spot—sisters Thameenah and Adiyuh Davis—for a ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday to officially open Wilmington’s newest grocery store at 2400 Northeast Boulevard in the City’s northeast section. Also joining the Mayor and store owners for the ceremony were 3rd District City Council Member Zanthia Oliver and Wilmington’s Director of Economic Development Jeff Flynn, along with other invited guests.

The Produce Spot, which is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., offers high-quality, fresh produce—everything from peppers and squash to pineapples and bananas, potatoes and lettuce and asparagus. EBT and SNAP benefits are accepted. All relevant COVID-19 protocols are being followed for the safety of staff and patrons. For more information, call 302.751.3305.

The Davis sisters, born and raised in Philadelphia where their father had a produce truck, both previously worked in health care through the Nemours system. Thameenah found her way to Delaware a little more than four years ago through a job with nearby Nemours Children’s Hospital. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent job losses prompted the sisters to think about opening their own grocery to give neighborhood residents access to healthy, inexpensive fruits and vegetables. Using their own money and family connections to local farmers, the sisters soon found the right space and were up and running. They are currently working with the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development to secure additional funding.

“We are excited to welcome the Thameenah and Adiyuh and their new market to Wilmington,” said the Mayor, “and I am confident that The Produce Spot will be a vital addition to this neighborhood, where the store is already making a positive impact. I hope that Thameenah and Adiyuh inspire other budding entrepreneurs to take a chance and invest in our neighborhoods and the people who live there.”

“Low-income communities often have limited access to fresh, healthy food, which has an enormous effect on many aspects of residents’ lives—from health care to quality of life to obesity rates,” the Mayor continued. “Researchers have even found that being able to buy fresh food can help reduce crime and make residents more invested in their communities.”

Mayor Purzycki has made neighborhood stabilization a major focus of his administration, and while the problem of food deserts continues to pose a challenge, the Mayor noted that the City has made considerable progress in increasing access and bringing more healthy food options to residents. “I am determined to do all I can to support those businesses and community organizations working to bring fresh, healthy food to all of Wilmington’s neighborhoods,” the Mayor said.

This press release was produced by the City of Wilmington. The views expressed here are the author’s own.