SOUTH EVERETT, Wash. - The DKJ Food Mart remains true to its convenience store roots, but has also increased its in-store offer to bring more healthy food choices to the community.

The South Everett Beacon reports that DKJ Food Mart, with federal grant assistance, has expanded into a second store, the A1 Produce Market, with fresh fruit and vegetables, a butcher and a range of specialty foods "that cater to the varied ethnic tastes of the ?? neighborhood."

DKG owner Surjit Bal was approached by Keri Moore of the Snohomish Health District to participate in the Healthy Foods Initiative pilot program. Moore canvased areas where residents had easy access to convenience stores and fast food outlets but not grocery stores. And while some stores were not interested in the investment and the risk to offer perishable goods, Bal recognized the program as an opportunity.

The newspaper writes that Bal decided to expand his convenience store into an empty space next door, rather than try to reconfigure the floor space. In March, the doors opened to the A1 Produce Market. And even though there is a grocery store a mile away, many residents don??t have transportation, which makes Bal??s convenience store a health community destination.

While there is a major grocery store about a mile away, many Casino Road residents don??t have a car, and bus service is infrequent. Towing kids to the store and groceries home can be a challenge.

Bal, whose consumers are about 80% Hispanic, listened to their requests for healthy foods and has been stocking his new store with the produce and meats they are seeking. "We have more variety than the other stores," he told the newspaper. Bal is also trying to stock foods that cater to the special dietary preferences of the community??s growing population from his native India, and is ready to stock items for the town??s growing Russian residents if they ask for them. "If they don??t see something they??d like, they can ask for it," he said.

As for the Healthy Food Initiative, Moore said the program is being duplicated in other counties across the state, although the grant money has run out. Also, the University of Washington is tasked with doing a follow-up study across the state to determine the success of the Healthy Foods Initiative.

"Education is a big part of this process," Moore told the newspaper, "especially for kids??we focus on the big picture, on policy and environmental changes that will be lasting. So if they??re successful, that will have a huge impact on the community."