The City of St. Petersburg, in partnership with St. Pete Free Clinic (SPFC), has launched a new program called the FRESH Pace Healthy Neighborhood Store Program to help set the pace for good health throughout the city.

City officials have identified 17 priority areas that lack access to healthy food. Those neighborhoods, primarily in South St. Petersburg, have more convenience stores than all other food resources combined.

Food prices are up 10% in a single year. Gas prices are up 48% since 2021. Energy costs are up 34% and used car prices are up 16%. That’s leading more people in the Tampa Bay area to trim their budgets with many facing food insecurity for the first time in their lives.