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Produce stand pops up at HART transit center

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There are food deserts all over the Tampa Bay area, often in low income neighborhoods.
 
Now some of the people living in those areas will be able to get fresh produce without going out of the way.
 
It's a sweet ride home for Ledora East, with produce she didn't know would be waiting at the Netpark Transit Center. 
 
"Bell peppers, nine, eight oranges and strawberries," she said. 
 
The closest market is far from her house. 
 
"I have to walk. If I don't walk I ride the bus. If I don't have a bus pass I have to walk," East said. 
 
Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful and HART are teaming up to put fresh fruits and vegetables in the hands of people who may not have access otherwise. 
 
"This area of Tampa, the East Lake, Orient Park area, is a food desert. The closest grocery store is about 3 1/2 miles away and for people that don't have their own personal transportation it can be quite difficult to get fresh produce," Tom Damico with Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful said. 
 
The produce is local and organic. This is a stand people are happy to see. 
 
"The people that can't get to the store, and they don't have a way then if they're here at the bus station they can always pick up their fruits on their way home," East said. 
 
You can also get recipes to go along with the fresh produce. The pop-up markets are monthly and the next one is the third week of April.