ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — There’s an update on a plan to bring fresh food and produce to north St. Louis County.
5 On Your Side first reported in 2022 how a non-profit was hoping to purchase a huge vacant property off of Halls Ferry Road. Now, the company has the keys, and leaders are working to make the multi-million-dollar transformation a reality.
People in north St. Louis County are very familiar with the company called A Red Circle. Leaders there grow fruits and vegetables on site.
People come to get free food on Fridays. For years, organizers have wanted to do so much more.
Now, that goal is in sight.
There's nothing like having the keys to your dream to help others. In this case, it's to bring a brand-new grocery store to north county.
"Fresh produce, meat, fish, value added products, plus your typical dry goods, your grains, your dairy,” said Erica Williams of A Red Circle.
Two years ago, her non-profit had plans to purchase a 45,000-square-foot space. Now that it has, a multi-million-dollar renovation plan is now in the works.
Just outside of the building, there's a demonstration garden at the corner of Halls Ferry and Lewis and Clark Road.
"When these fruit trees mature, people will be able to walk down the street and just grab
an apple off a tree…. Try to combat some of the junk food that's in the region. Give people options,” she continued. "Right now we have collard greens and watermelon and sunflowers."
It's a new addition to the group's farmland a few minutes away in Pine Lawn.
"Pumpkins are right behind you. They'll be coming in,” Williams said, pointing to the crops.
Next to the farm, the company just finished renovations on a farmhouse.
"The farmers will be able to come here and check out equipment. We have tractors and tillers… We’ll
have someone here doing cooking demonstrations with the food from the farm…(We’re) teaching canning classes,” she explained.
All of this is a labor of love. Federal funding, grants and private donations are helping bring fresh food to an area where it can be scarce.
"To be able to renovate and bring life into this space with good food and jobs and entrepreneurship is amazing."
What's more amazing is the will to thrive -- even when it seems like there's no way.
"Growing food in a disinvested area is an act of liberation,” Williams said.
Organizers are hoping to roll out a soft launch of the grocery store next year. They're also working to open a kitchen on-site for cooks to have a shared working space. The building would also allow new business owners to open shop.